President Arif Alvi signed a summary for the dissolution of the National Assembly on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent the summary late on Wednesday after receiving it from the ministry of parliamentary affairs earlier in the day.

The law states that even if the president does not sign the summary the assembly stands dissolved 48 hours after the summary is sent. However, the president signed the document on Thursday (tomorrow).

The federal cabinet also held its last meeting on Wednesday. The the dissolution of the National Assembly the cabinet has also been dissolved, however, Shehbaz Sharif will stay at the helm of affairs until a caretaker prime minister is picked.

The government was keen on dissolving the assembly before it was set to complete its five-year term on August 12. The premature dissolution will allow the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold general elections in 90 days instead of 60 days allowed when the assembly completes its term.

The prime minister and the leader of the opposition, Raja Riaz, will also start a consultation process on the appointment of a caretaker prime minister, who will run the country until a new government is sworn in after the election.

The two were set to meet on Wednesday, but now they will be meeting on Thursday.

However, it has still not been announced who will be the caretaker prime minister as the ruling parties hold their cards closer to the chest.

Several names have been reported in the media with PMLN’s Ishaq Dar and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, technocrat Hafiz Shiekh, former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal, and former jurist Justice (retd) Khalilur Rehman Ramday being possible candidates.

Former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani also emerged as a strong contender on Wednesday.