Will Shehbaz Sharif Step Down As Pakistan PM Today, What’s Next For Pak?

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, is expected to initiate the process of dissolving the National Assembly on August 9, 2023. 

This move comes as the government seeks more time for general elections, which are scheduled later this year. 

The current term of the National Assembly is set to end on August 12, but it might be dissolved a few days earlier. Prime Minister Sharif confirmed this decision during a ceremony in Islamabad.

According to the Pakistani Constitution, if the National Assembly is dissolved before completing its term, elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution. 

The Prime Minister will be presenting a list of candidates for the position of caretaker Prime Minister to the President. 

If an agreement is not reached regarding the candidates, the Election Commission of Pakistan will step in to finalize the list.

It’s important to note that these developments are taking place shortly after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to jail and disqualified by the Election Commission for five years. 

These political changes have led to a shifting landscape in Pakistani politics, with the government seeking to manage the transition smoothly.

The upcoming general elections will be significant for Pakistan, as they will be conducted using a new digital census. However, this census might cause a delay in the elections. 

While the ideal timeline is to hold the polls within three months of finalizing the caretaker Prime Minister candidates, the new census could impact the schedule.

These political shifts are occurring amidst various challenges and changes in the Pakistani political arena, ultimately shaping the future direction of the country’s leadership and governance.

The digital census is still in its early stages, and it is not yet clear how long it will take to complete. Additionally, the digital census is a complex process, and there is a risk that it could be delayed due to technical problems.

In case, if you’re unaware of this term, a ‘Digital Census’ is a census that is conducted using digital methods, such as tablets and smartphones. This is in contrast to traditional censuses, which are conducted using paper forms.

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However Pakistan is already suffering so many crises. Thus the country is not ready for this technology. As the digital census can be more difficult to administer in rural areas. They can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Plus, they also require a higher level of literacy among respondents.