QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly was dissolved on Saturday after Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar signed the summary moved by Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.
“As advised by Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, the Chief Minister of Balochistan and in the exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Article 112(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, I, Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar, Governor Balochistan hereby dissolve the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, this 12th day of August 2023 at 5pm,” said the notification issued by the Governor House.
After the dissolution of the assembly, the provincial cabinet also stands dissolved. CM Bizenjo will continue to hold the office until the appointment of the caretaker chief minister.
Now, CM Bizenjo and Leader of the Opposition in Balochistan Assembly Malik Sikandar will hold consultations regarding the appointment of an interim chief minister.
How is interim chief minister appointed?
Once the provincial assembly is dissolved, the government will require a caretaker setup, irrespective of whether or not the governor approves the summary undersigned by the chief minister.
The assembly will stand dissolved in the next 48 hours as per the Constitution even if the governor does not approve it.
Contrary to the practice in other countries, the Constitution of Pakistan stipulates that a caretaker government will have to be sworn in till a new government is elected by the people.
Article 224 of the Constitution explains the process of appointment of a caretaker government at the centre and provinces.
Until the formation of a caretaker government, Murad will continue his duties as the CM albeit for a few days.
It is only incumbent Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, out of all elected representatives, who will hold his position until the newly-elected lawmakers take an oath and elect his replacement.
For the formation of a caretaker government, CM Murad will write to the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, within 48 hours of the dissolution of the assembly, seeking three names for the caretaker chief minister and will suggest three names himself.
If an impasse, between the two leaders, lasts for three days, then the speaker will form a committee comprising six members of the outgoing assembly with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition.
To the committee, the CM and the leader of the opposition will forward two nominees each.
The committee then will have three days to evolve consensus on one name. If that fails as well then the names of the nominees will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for a final decision within two days.
The selected nominee will perform his/her duties as the interim CM until the formation of a new government in the province. The caretaker chief executive also has the power to induct his own cabinet.
Following the placement of a caretaker chief minister, the ECP is bound to carry out general elections in the province within 90 days.
The electoral body can hold polls within 22 to 45 days because constitutionally it requires at least 22 days to scrutinise the nomination papers of the candidates.
The candidates will be given 29 to 30 days to run the election campaign.
