Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the coalition government’s tenure will end on August 14, and the date for the next general elections in Pakistan will be determined by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), potentially in October or November.
This statement suggests that PM Shehbaz Sharif does not intend to dissolve the National Assembly before its scheduled date. According to constitutional provisions, the general elections take place 60 days after the completion of the National Assembly’s term. However, if the government dissolves the assembly earlier, the election date can be extended to 90 days after the dissolution.
During the Education Endowment Fund launch ceremony in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized the importance of education and urged the next government to prioritize it. The government has allocated a budget of Rs3 billion this fiscal year for the endowment fund to promote education and nurture the youth as future nation builders.
The major ruling coalition partners, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), seem to agree with holding the elections by the constitutional provisions.
Recently, the PPP proposed that all assemblies be dissolved on August 8, but the federal government, including the Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, has made it clear that there will be no extension to the National Assembly’s term. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah suggested the possibility of dissolving the assemblies earlier to facilitate the ECP.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling party, has demanded that the elections take place as scheduled, as they anticipate victory in the upcoming polls.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), has seen a decline in popularity according to recent surveys, and it faces the challenging task of mobilizing supporters for the next elections.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is aiming for the return of their leader, Nawaz Sharif, and hopes to see him become prime minister for the fourth time. Nawaz Sharif enjoys strong support in Punjab, which could significantly influence the electoral dynamics in the province.
