ISLAMABAD: In a second uninterrupted democratic transition in Pakistan, election for the 19th Chief Executive of the country will be held on Friday (tomorrow) in the National Assembly.
The Lower House is all set to cast votes for the next Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, where PTI chief Imran Khan and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif are in the race for the coveted office so far.
The deadline for the submission of the nomination papers for the PM slot will end by 2:00 pm today.
Eligibility criteria for Prime Minister candidate:
To be a candidate for prime minister office:
- One has to be a Member of National Assembly (MNA).
- The nomination of the MNA has to be proposed for the position of prime minister by any fellow MNA.
- In a second step, another lawmaker must second the nomination of the candidate.
- The candidate has to be of Muslim faith.
- The nomination papers have to be filed to the Secretary of the National Assembly, the day before the polling session, by 2:00 pm.
After meeting above cited criteria, the nomination is assessed by the Speaker of the National Assembly on the same day, by 3pm. The candidate can withdraw their nomination at any time before polling.
How the prime minister is elected?
The members of the National Assembly (MNAs) elect the prime minister of the country in accordance with the Second Schedule of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
- lf there is only one contesting candidate and he [or she] secures the votes of the majority of the total membership of the Assembly, the Speaker shall declare him [or her] to have been elected.
- However, “lf there is only one contesting candidate and he [she] fails to secure the votes of the majority of the total membership of the Assembly, all proceedings shall commence afresh.”
- “lf there are two or more contesting candidates and if no contesting candidate secures such majority in the first poll, a second poll shall be held between the candidates who secure the two highest numbers of votes in the first poll and the candidate who secures a majority of votes of the members present and voting, shall be declared to have been elected as Prime Minister.”
