ISLAMABAD: Although the constitution provides a window of 21 days after the election date to summon the session of the new National Assembly, the PML-N which has emerged as the single largest party plans to get into action as soon as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officially announces the results.

Senator Mushahidullah Khan, information secretary of the PML-N, told Dawn that his party wanted to form the government soon in order to take up the manifold problems the country was facing.

He said the PML-N was hoping to secure a majority of 172 members in the house of 342 and it would definitely like early convening of the NA session so the new government could be formed without delay. Mr Khan said the National Assembly would have to adopt the federal budget by June 30 which also required early convening of its session.

Answering a question, he said after election results were officially announced, the caretaker government could be asked to immediately summon the National Assembly session.

Talking to Dawn, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ahmar Bilal Sufi said: “We are just waiting for the finalisation of election results which will be done in a day or two and after that we will decide when the National Assembly session can be called under the constitutional procedures.”

He said there would not be any delay because the caretaker government was aware of the constitutional requirement.

The prime minister will move a summary to the president to summon the National Assembly session. According to Article 224 (1) of the constitution, the ECP is bound to announce election results not later than 14 days of the holding of election.

Article 91 (2) says: “The National Assembly shall meet on the twenty-first day following the day on which a general election to the assembly is held, unless sooner summoned by the president.”