In an effort to break the impasse over the summoning of the National Assembly, the caretaker government has once again written to President Arif Alvi to perform his ‘constitutional duty’.

The government has replied to Alvi’s concerns over the summoning of the session and told him that the president can only stop an ordinary session under Article 54.

Alvi has also been told that the first session is a constitutional requirement and must be called within 21 days and so does not fall under Article 54.

The government has also maintained that Article 91 does not mention anything about the house being completed before the Assembly can be called.

While the government has asked Alvi to reconsider his decision and summon the National Assembly, it has also reminded him that the session will have to be called on the 21st day of the general elections in any case. The 21st day will fall on February 29.

President Alvi had refused to act on the summary of the National Assembly’s session. Sources had indicated that his reservation was based on the fact that all reserved seats in the house have not bee allocated so far.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan told reporters on Tuesday that Alvi had made the right decision in refusing to call the NA session.

Notification prepared

On the other hand, the National Assembly Secretariat has also prepared its notification for the inaugural session.

According to sources, the secretariat will wait for the president to wait for the government’s latest appeal till midnight on Tuesday. If Alvi still does not respond, the notification will be issued tomorrow.