ISLAMABAD: With Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claiming to have gathered the number of lawmakers needed to form governments in the center, as well as other provinces, the procedure of transfer of power to the newly-elected government, is likely within the next ten days.
The procedural matters of general elections are coming to maturity as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) compiles the results of the candidates to complete the laid down procedures. The winning candidates have been given a deadline of August 4 to submit the details of their election spending. Meanwhile, ECP has also completed the ongoing recounting in several constituencies and the final results are expected to be published today (Wednesday).
Notifications of all successful lawmakers of national and provincial assemblies would be issued by August 4 as well.
The ECP would then give three days to independent lawmakers to join any party in their respective assemblies so as final party positions could be notified. Once the final party positions are issued, the ECP would notify the successful candidates on reserved seats of women and minorities by August 8.
It would mark the completion of the electoral process of national and provincial assemblies.
Later, the process of transfer of power would commence under Article 91, which deals with elections and oath of the prime minister/chief ministers and their respective cabinets.
The president of Pakistan and governors of respective provinces would convene the sessions of national and respective provincial assemblies by August 9.
On the first day of the assemblies, speakers of outgoing assemblies would administer the oath to the newly-elected members and on the next day, the elections for new speakers and deputy speakers would be held.
A day later, the election for prime minister and provincial chief ministers would be held. The same day in the evening, the oath of the elected prime and chief ministers would be observed.
Under Article 91 of the constitution, the entire process is to be completed not more than 21 days after the elections. Hence, the entire process of transfer of power has to take place by August 15.