LAHORE: Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood dissolved the provincial assembly on Wednesday immediately after receiving an advice from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, removing the last hurdle in holding polls for the national and provincial assemblies on the same day.

The advice was issued one day later than March 19 as decided by the four chief ministers at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in Islamabad last week.

The PML-N officials said the dissolution was delayed because the party waited for Nawaz Sharif’s return from a private visit to London and Saudi Arabia, where he reportedly held important discussions about the future role of his party.

Meanwhile, Mr Shahbaz Sharif and the leader of opposition Raja Riaz have not yet agreed on a name for the caretaker chief minister.—Staff Reporter