The two sides have also agreed in principle that the PML-N will accept the PPP’s choice for interim chief minister in Sindh. PHOTO: FILE
Negotiating teams for the government and the opposition, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have agreed in principle to dissolve the National Assembly and all provincial assemblies on March 16, paving the way for elections for both national and provincial legislatures on the same day.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Friday that the National Assembly will complete its tenure and will not be dissolved before March 16, a private TV channel reported. In behind the scenes negotiations, the two major parties have reportedly covered significant ground over installing interim set-ups at both the centre and in provinces.
Formal negotiations between the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly are yet to start. However many issues have been decided behind closed doors, between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) committee led by Khurshid Shah and PML-N committee led by Ishaq Dar.
The two sides have also agreed in principle that the PML-N will accept the PPP’s choice for interim chief minister in Sindh. The PPP has said it will reciprocate this gesture in Punjab, provided an acceptable name is chosen.
Although the tenure of the National Assembly will expire on March 16, the Punjab Assembly will remain functional until April 8, a leverage the PML-N has been using to its advantage in its negotiations with the ruling party.
If the PML-N doesn’t dissolve the provincial assembly before April 8, elections of National and all provincial assemblies will not take place within a 60-day timeframe, unless the rest of the assemblies are dissolved before March 16.
If the dissolution of assemblies occurs on different dates, it would be an administrative nightmare for election authorities to conduct elections for all legislatures the same day.
There is no legal bar on holding these elections separately, but since the polls require huge financial and administrative resources, election authorities have been holding them on the same day since 1997.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek told reporters that in order to hold elections on the same date, both the National and provincial assemblies need to be dissolved the same day. He said on March 16, the federal cabinet would stand dissolved but prime minister would continue for another few days till an interim premier takes office.
PML-N spokesperson Senator Pervez Rasheed told The Express Tribune that the dissolution of the assemblies on March 16th is conditional from the PML-N, and depends on if all other related matters go smoothly. “We will keep this option till the last minute,” he said. However, he said that if the rest of the pre-election issues went smoothly between the two parties, PML-N would agree to it.
Meanwhile, the opposition has floated many names for an interim prime minister with other opposition parties and in the media, while the PPP, in contrast, has been tight-lipped on the subject. When contacted, a number of PPP leaders claimed that their nominee will be both neutral and acceptable to the PML-N, adding that the party will reveal a name once formal talks begin.
Legal position
The prime minister is supposed to write a letter to the leader of the opposition inviting his consultation over their perspective candidates for an interim premiership.
In case the prime minister and leader of opposition fail to agree on a person to be appointed as the caretaker prime minister within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, they each have to forward two nominees to a committee to be immediately constituted by the speaker of the National Assembly. This committee comprises eight members of the outgoing assembly, the Senate, or both, with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition, to be nominated by the prime minister and opposition leader, respectively.
In case this committee fails to make a decision, the matter is then referred to the election commission which is required to make a final selection within two days. The same procedure would be adopted for the appointment of provincial interim chief ministers.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (13)
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I am a Pakistani registered voter. I last casted my vote for MPA & MNA on 18-02-2008 at dawn of democratic Pakistan. In five years my MPA & MNA have failed to hold any election for my LOCAL Government, which is core building block of any democratic Pakistan. Today, 0n 25-02-2013 my FUNDIMENTAL RIGHT to caste my vote has been erroded. I do not know when I am going to caste my vote - that I should have casted in August 2009 (For Local Government), and for MPA & MNA on 18-02-2013. By the time election is held sometime in May, my MPA & MNA would have overrun my votes mandate by 3 months.So, every time PA & NA membership would run for 5years 3months, and not for 5 years only. Forget the Local Government?????
Please, please, please, HELP ALL PAKISTANI VOTERS!!!!!! Yours ever faithfull & silent Pakistani Voter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the first-ever transition of power from one civilian government to another civilian government, without the umbrella of military boots. Matter of pride that Pakistan also progresses to become a civilised country in the world!
Its a constitutional right of the government and the opposition to negotiate for the interim setup. If PTI kids dont know wht the constitution says then u guys should go through it or maybe ask ur stupid leader not to run away from the elections next time and may be try to win a couple of seats of the National Assembly inorder to say or suggest something but for now all i wanna say to PTI trolls and its leader is "GROW UP"
Official meetings and negotiations in any walk of life are simply rubber stamping exercises.
Informal negotiations always take place behind the scenes and when everyone is heading towards the finishing line the final decision makers step into the room, whether it is business or politics.
This is perfectly normal and acceptable, especially as these behind the scenes talks are taking place between the representatives of the PM and opposition leader - who will make the final call as per the Constitution.
A wink and a nod @Asim:
Those who says MUK MUKA are living in fool paradise and also making fool to innocent people please read the constitution before making fool to innocent people
What is the exact word in english for Muk Muka?? I want to say it is that word going on in between these two parties.
@ss ahmad
What I dont get is...if they are part of constitution...then why the covert negotiations. Every thing should be done above board and in plain sight.
Samjhota Express, Muk Muka, Noora League zindabad
this is great news Democracy is working and after all who else can better decide these matters than the elected members of two main political parties
At last the democracy has started working. The smooth transfer of power, according to the constitution, is being negotiated and is also reported by the media without any restrictions.
A Peshawary
This "Muk Muka" is part of the constitution. In democracies its called "negotiations leading to a consensus". PTI leaders and supporters need to grow up and educate themselves.
"In behind the scenes negotiations, the two major parties have reportedly covered significant ground over installing interim set-ups at both the centre and in provinces"
So certifies the "MUK MUKA" arrangements oft spoken by PTI Chief. What a country and political scenario we cherish?