K-P Assembly members set to take oath on 29th

Highly unlikely provincial governor to convene meeting earlier

PESHAWAR:

After the general elections, the meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is constitutionally required to be convened by the 21st day, which is Feb 29. However, after the Election Commission has issued the gazette notification of the election results, the provincial governor can call the assembly session even before that.

Under Article 130(2) of the Constitution, the first meeting of the provincial assembly after the general election must be convened by the 21st day of the polls.

As the general elections were held on Feb 8, the constitutional deadline for convening the meeting of the provincial assembly is Feb 29.

Read: PTI strategies govt formation at Centre, Punjab, K-P

In this regard, it has been clarified in Article 130(2) of the Constitution that after the publication of the gazette notification of the victory of the successful candidates by the Election Commission, the governor can call a meeting of the assembly even before the 21st day if he wishes.

However, due to the election procedure and other engagements on the part of various candidates, it is likely that the meeting of the K-P Assembly will be called on Feb 29 in which the successful members will take oath, after which Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani will release the schedule for the election of the speaker and the assembly session will be adjourned.

After two days, the speaker will be elected in the assembly through a secret ballot. After that, the speaker will conduct an election for the post of deputy speaker. Once again the members will elect the deputy speaker through a secret ballot.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th 2024.