LAHORE, Nov 17: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has sent advice to the governor to dissolve the Punjab Assembly on Sunday (today) and convened a farewell cabinet meeting on the same day in the morning.

Official sources told Dawn on Saturday that initially the assembly, which had completed its five-year term, was to be dissolved on Nov 20. But, the sources added, now the date had been modified in view of the election schedule’s likely announcement by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Nov 21.

The governor was likely to notify the dissolution of the assembly on Sunday night and the caretaker government would take oath on Monday at the Governor’s House. Justice Ejaz Nisar (retired) was still being tipped as the caretaker chief minister, having a thin cabinet consisting of eight to 12 members, mainly retired government officers.

The sources said according to the earlier programme the chief minister was to preside over the last informal meeting of his cabinet on Nov 20. But, they added, now he had convened it on Sunday morning.

They said that the meeting would have the single-point agenda; to express vote of thanks to cabinet members for their cooperation in running the government and also giving them instructions about contesting the general elections and ensuring the victory of Pakistan Muslim League.

The sources said after the cabinet meeting the chief minister would also attend a farewell party hosted by the provincial administrative machinery.

Meanwhile, the chief minister held farewell meetings with staff in his secretariat. He individually met all officials and officers and thanked them.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi says the Punjab Assembly will be dissolved on Sunday after which a caretaker set-up will be installed in the province.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a project to improve parking and other facilities in Liberty Market here on Saturday, the chief minister said the assemblies were completing their constitutional term for the first time in the history of Pakistan for which credit should be given to Gen Musharraf. —Staff Reporter