RAWALPINDI: The permanent Constitution will come into force at zero hour on Aug 14 after a week-long exercise for transition from the interim to the permanent Constitution. Announcing the programme ... today [July 14], Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Hafeez Pirzada said the Senate will be summoned on Aug. 6 to enable its members to take oath. Immediately afterwards, it will proceed with the election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman. …

Nominations for the election of President of Pakistan will be invited by Aug. 7 or 8. Then the Parliament will sit in a joint session on 9th or 10th — depending on whether there was to be an election or not. August 11 will be the day for nominations for the post of Prime Minister … and on the 12th the National Assembly in an open session by an open vote will elect the first Prime Minister under the new Constitution.

Mr. Pirzada said [PPP] candidates for the office of the President and for other offices will be announced after President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto returns from his present tour abroad. He said the “PPP” had emerged as the majority party in all the four provinces after the Senate elections. …

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023