President Alvi’s wait game: fate of NA session hangs in the balance

ISLAMABAD: President Alvi is yet to convene a session of the National Assembly despite having received a summary from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs four days ago, sources disclosed on Wednesday.

Sources revealed that President Alvi has justified his stance by citing incomplete membership in the House, with some reserved seats still awaiting allocation.

As of now, President Alvi has neither endorsed nor rejected the summary.

The caretaker federal government emphasized that Article 91(2) of the Constitution mandates the summoning of the National Assembly session within 21 days following a general election. Failure to do so will automatically trigger the session on February 29, in accordance with constitutional provisions.

In contrast, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar contended that if President Alvi fails to summon the session based on the summary, the speaker holds the authority to convene the session on February 29, as per constitutional provisions.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party leader Shazia Marri criticized President Alvi, accusing him of “misusing authority” by delaying the summoning of the new National Assembly.

Marri emphasized the president’s obligation to promptly convene the session as per the prime minister’s summary, urging adherence to constitutional principles over individual directives.

Meanwhile, Election Commission of Pakistan former secretary Kanwar Dilshad said that the Constitution stipulates the mandatory summoning of National and provincial assembly sessions within 21 days of general elections.

Dilshad emphasized the necessity for President Alvi to summon the session by February 29. He further clarified that if the president refrains from calling the session, one-third of the members could request the speaker to convene it.

However, he said, given that elected representatives have yet to take their oaths, the speaker lacks the authority to requisition the session, leaving the responsibility with the president.