President Alvi, Imran Khan likely to have last word on dissolution of assemblies

President Alvi due in Lahore as Imran mulls final decision on assemblies' dissolution

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - President Arif Alvi is all set to travel to Lahore on Wednesday to hold consultations with PTI Chairman Imran Khan regarding plan to dissolve assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkawa this month.

The meeting comes as the deadline announced by the PTI leaders to dissolve the provincial assemblies is nearing. Earlier this month, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry gave an ultimatum to the coalition government to announce a date for the general election by Dec 20 otherwise, the party would announce schedule to disband the assemblies.

President Alvi, who is facilitating talks between the PTI and the government to find a middle ground to end political uncertainty in the country, will brief Mr Khan on his discussions with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Mr Dar and the president have held several meetings in the federal capital, with elections and economy on the top of the agenda. However, the discussions could not bear fruit as the government wants negotiations with the PTI without any condition.

Meanwhile, the PTI chief has called a meeting of senior leaders of the party to decide about disbanding the assemblies. Mr Khan had first announced his decision to dissolve the assemblies in both provinces in the final showdown of his party s long march in Rawalpindi in November last.