Amidst president’s refusal, speaker decides to summon NA session

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf has decided to summon the session of the lower house on February 29 to administer oath to the newly elected members, following President Arif Alvi’s refusal to sign a summary.

Sources said that NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf presided over an emergency meeting where the decision to convene the session was reached. The NA speaker has decided to summon the session under Article 91(2) of the Constitution.

According to sources, consultations with officials and constitutional experts from the National Assembly Secretariat, alongside the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Law and Justice, preceded the decision.

Despite President Alvi’s reluctance to sign the summary, citing the non-allocation of seats reserved for women and minorities as a precondition, legal experts asserted that this refusal did not obstruct the constitutional requirement to convene the session within 21 days after the general election.

It is noteworthy that under Article 91(2), failure to convene the session by February 29 would contravene constitutional stipulations.

President Alvi’s insistence on seat allocation for women and minorities as a prerequisite for the session’s summoning has sparked debate and criticism, with PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman questioning the president’s commitment to constitutional duties.

Senator Rehman condemned the president’s delay in convening the session, accusing him of prioritizing partisan interests over the constitutional mandate.

“The speaker’s decision to proceed with the session on February 29 reflects a commitment to upholding constitutional principles, ensuring the smooth functioning of Pakistan’s democratic institutions,” she said.