admin ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi on Wednesday dissolved the National Assembly three days before the completion of its five-year tenure, shortly after a summary signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, advising the dissolution of the lower house, was sent to the Presidency.
A statement issued by the Presidency just before midnight read, “President Arif Alvi has dissolved the National Assembly under Article 58(1) on the advice of the prime minister.” After the approval of the summary, the federal cabinet also stands dissolved.
As for the dissolution of the provincial assemblies, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo denied reports that he had sent a summary to Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar for dissolving the provincial assembly, which held its final sitting on Tuesday.
“I am not in a hurry to send advice for dissolving the Balochistan Assembly,” Mr Bizenjo told Dawn by phone from Islamabad late on Wednesday night. However, he said he might sign a summary on Aug 12 (Saturday).
Mr Bizenjo also insisted that no name had been finalised for the caretaker chief minister.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Assembly remains in session.