National Assembly to be dissolved tonight: Notification

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to address the nation tonight.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MPA) has released the notification detailing the dissolution of the National Assembly and the federal cabinet, since midnight March 17, Express News reported on Saturday.

The dissolution of the federal legislature was pronounced under Articles 52 and 62 of the Constitution of 1973.  The five year term of the National Assembly expired at midnight on Saturday and henceforth, as per the constitutional provisions and the orders of the notification, the house and the federal cabinet ceased to exist as a legislating body.

This notification was preceded by earlier meetings of the Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf with the four chief ministers of the provinces and the political negotiations between all political parties about establishing a caretaker setup who would be tasked with coordinating and administering the next federal elections.

According to the constitution, federal elections would have to be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.