Islamabad: Pakistan's Parliament is likely to be dissolved in January 2013 and a caretaker government installed to oversee elections to be held by April. Speculation has increased in political circles about the government preparing a preliminary roadmap for the next general election, which is scheduled for early 2012.
The National Assembly or lower house of Parliament is likely to be dissolved on January 16 or 17, The News daily quoted its sources as saying. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would make a final decision about installing a caretaker government, dissolving the national and provincial assemblies and the holding of the general election after consulting partners in the ruling coalition.
If the National Assembly is dissolved in January, the constitutional limit for holding polls will be 90 days. At the same time, the Constitution states that polls must be held within 60 days of the completion of the tenure of the current Parliament.
The current National Assembly will complete its tenure on March 16 and the general election may be held by April 26, the report said. As the polls get closer, political "wheeling and dealing" has gathered pace and new political alliances may be forged before the election, the report said....
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01:20 PM, Oct 30, 2012
Islamabad: In a major relief for Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Election Commission on Tuesday decided not to disqualify him as a legislator; weeks after the Supreme Court had said that he may lose membership of the Senate for making a false declaration about his citizenship. Secretary Election Commission Afzal Khan said that no further proceedings will be conducted against Malik, Dawn News reported. Khan said the decision was taken...
10:58 PM, Oct 23, 2012
Islamabad: Rehman Mailk, Pakistan's advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Affairs, on Tuesday resigned from the Senate over a month after the Supreme Court suspended his membership of Parliament. Malik said at the Karachi airport that he had submitted his resignation to the Chairman of the Senate or upper house of Parliament. On June 4, the apex court suspended Malik's membership of the Senate on the ground that he had...
03:36 PM, Jul 10, 2012
Islamabad: Pakistani opposition lawmakers and members of the treasury benches on Friday engaged in fisticuffs as Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented the government's new budget in Parliament amidst uproar. Members of the main opposition PML-N, who were protesting against power cuts and corruption during Shaikh's speech, scuffled with lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan People's Party in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament. Several lawmakers were seen raining...
11:04 AM, Jun 02, 2012
Islamabad: In a reprieve for Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Parliament's Speaker on Thursday ruled out his disqualification in the wake of his conviction for contempt by the Supreme Court for refusing to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. In a ruling issued this afternoon, Fehmida Mirza, the Speaker of the National Assembly or lower house of parliament, said she had decided not to send any proposal for...
12:06 AM, May 25, 2012
Islamabad: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani cited India's flourishing democracy and its "stark difference" from Pakistan as he lamented that no elected government had been allowed to complete its term in his country. Highlighting the importance of maintaining democracy in Pakistan, Gilani said the completion of parliament's term is in the interest of the country but conspiracies were being hatched against his government to prevent the holding of elections to...
03:16 PM, Feb 06, 2012
Islamabad: Controversial Pakistani-American Mansoor Ijaz on Friday said he had been assured by the US of its support during his upcoming visit to Pakistan to testify before a judicial panel probing the memo scandal. "I had a conference call with the US State Department a couple of days ago. The US government will provide the support that they always do for US citizens," Ijaz told Geo News channel in an...
11:33 PM, Jan 20, 2012
Islamabad: The Pakistani media on Tuesday warned beleaguered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani-led government that it has been granted a "last lifeline" by the Supreme Court to end its confrontation with the judiciary as the nation can ill-afford another spell of military rule. Gilani's response when he appears in the apex court on January 19 is expected to influence the outcome of the current face-off between the Pakistan People's Party-led...
01:58 PM, Jan 17, 2012
Islamabad: The noose seems to be tightening around Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. On Monday, the Pakistan Supreme Court served him a contempt notice for failing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Gilani may now be forced to apologise to the court in person and even seek re-opening of those cases. Gilani, under siege, declared in Parliament on Monday that he will respond to summons from...
07:32 AM, Jan 17, 2012
Islamabad: Amidst speculations of a confidence motion, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday made it clear that he does not need a vote of confidence. speaking during the special session of Pakistan's National Assembly, Gilani said, "I don't need a vote of confidence, this House unanimously elected me." The special Assembly session ended on Friday and will convene again on Monday. Downplaying the Army threat, he said the...
01:29 PM, Jan 13, 2012
Country claims gains against militants in the restive northwest region. ...
10:19 PM, Jun 02, 2009
The amendment gives powers to the President to dismiss the PM. ...
12:16 PM, Mar 19, 2009
Pakistan's Defence Minister says it will help evolve national consensus. ...
10:33 PM, Oct 08, 2008
The first session will be held on Wednesday. ...
09:32 PM, Oct 06, 2008
Adelaide: Centurion Ricky Ponting does not want Australia to kill too much time in their pursuit of putting up a huge first-innings total for taking 20 wickets could be hard work on a benign Adelaide Oval pitch. You have to be careful not to bat too long. It will be a tough wicket to take 20 wickets if you want to win this game. We need to make sure we're...
08:17 AM, Apr 15, 2008
Pakistani police defused two rockets attached to mobile phones near Pakistan Parliament. ...
12:38 PM, Oct 05, 2006
