Punjab governor meets PM ahead of likely signing of PA dissolution summary

Shehbaz also meets senior federal ministers and PML-N leaders at his residence in Lahore's Model Town

Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and other federal ministers on Saturday met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the premier's residence in Lahore's Model Town ahead of likely signing of Punjab Assembly dissolution summary forwarded to him by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

According to Express News, the meeting deliberated upon whether to dissolve Punjab Assembly now or at 10pm.

Sources said that after the dissolution of provincial assembly, CM Elahi will unanimously decide the name of caretaker chief minister in consultation with opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz within three days.

They said that the caretaker CM will be sworn in if both leaders agree on a name. However, if they don't then the matter will be referred to Speaker Punjab Assembly who will announce a parliamentary committee to resolve the issue.

Read more: ‘Caretaker set-up’ in Punjab soon

Insiders revealed that if the committee also failed to reach an agreement then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would take up the issue to choose a candidate from the six nominated candidates.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz also met with senior federal ministers and PML-N leaders including Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Atta Tarar and others.

In the meetings, consultations were held regarding the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly and possible elections in the province.

The development comes two days after CM Elahi, hours after regaining the confidence of a majority of lawmakers in PA, formally advised the governor to dissolve the provincial legislature.

The move capped weeks of speculation, legal wrangling and a public spectacle of the differences between the ruling allies in Punjab — the PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) — over whether the assembly would be disbanded or not.