Sindh CM hints at dissolving provincial assembly on Aug 11

KARACHI: Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Murad Ali Shah on Thursday has hinted at the possibility of dissolving the provincial legislature on August 11, providing a three-month time for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct the general election.

According to the media reports, with the National Assembly (NA) and provincial assemblies’ tenure scheduled to end on August 12, coalition partners are engaging in discussion regarding the caretaker set-up.

CM Shah said that if the government is dissolved before August 12, elections would be held within the next 90 days. However, if the assembly completed its term, then the ECP would hold polls within 60 days.

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Shah said that the Sindh Assembly would automatically dissolve on August 12 at midnight.

He said that the ECP wanted three months to hold elections. “If the authorities believe elections can be conducted within three months, the assembly will be dissolved a day earlier on August 11.  I will advise the governor to do and he will accept it the same day,” the CM added.

Meanwhile, the latest replacement of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s (PTI) Haleem Adil Sheikh with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Rana Ansar as the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly has sparked speculation of a consensus between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition MQM-P to deicide on the caretaker CM.