President Arif Alvi won’t swear in the new prime minister because a new president will be elected before the prime minister.
The oath-taking for newly elected National Assembly members might happen on February 26, just before the assembly’s first session.
This also applies to members elected for both houses who won’t be part of the provincial assembly once they take the oath at the national level.
According to parliamentary sources, the Senate’s 53 members, chairman/deputy chairman, and the president must be elected before March 8.
If the president is elected a week earlier, the new president will administer the oath to the new prime minister. Members must submit their expense details by February 18, and notifications of elected members will be issued by February 22.
The National Assembly session might be held on February 26, followed by the provincial assemblies. Once the oath is taken, members can vote for Senate members.
The Senate election will take four days, followed by the president’s election. Then, a five-day schedule for electing speakers, deputy speakers, prime minister (National Assembly), and chief ministers (provincial assemblies) will commence.
President Arif Alvi previously declined to swear in Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif due to health reasons. The caretaker prime minister and cabinet members will remain until the new prime minister takes the oath.