ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has decided not to convene session of National Assembly until Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) completes allocation of reserved seats.

Sources indicate that despite receiving summary from Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to convene session, President has taken stance that lower house of Parliament will remain incomplete until all parties are assigned reserved seats.

While ECP has allocated reserved seats to political parties, it has yet to assign reserved quota to Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), which includes independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. ECP has stated that matter of reserved seats for SIC is currently pending with it.

Summary sent by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to President four days ago has not yet been signed for convening inaugural session of National Assembly.

Dr Alvi has neither accepted nor rejected summary so far; only verbal stance has been presented.

According to Article 91 of Constitution, if President does not sign summary for convening session, Speaker of National Assembly is mandated to convene session on 21st day following elections.

In accordance with this, Speaker can convene session on February 29, following general elections held on February 8.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 26 2024

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