https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pakistan-parliament-dissolved-hold-national-election-rcna99169Pakistan’s Parliament was dissolved by the president on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice late Wednesday night, the president’s office said, setting the stage for a national election amid political and economic crises.
The advice came three days ahead of the end of Parliament’s five-year term, which expires on Aug. 12. It will be followed with a caretaker administration to be picked by Sharif and an opposition leader in the outgoing Parliament to hold new elections in 90 days.
“I will tonight advise the president to dissolve the Parliament,” the premier had earlier said. He said he would start discussions with the opposition leader on Thursday to pick from candidates recommended from both sides to nominate as caretaker prime minister.
The vote, however, could be delayed several months with the election commission set to start redrawing hundreds of constituencies based on a fresh census.
Analysts have said any delay in the election could fuel public anger and add to uncertainty in the nuclear-armed nation.
