Pakistan: Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies to dissolve on Dec 23, says Imran Khan

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday made the much-awaited announcement that his governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will dissolve their provincial assemblies on December 23 to pave the way for fresh elections.

In an address to the nation via a video link from his Lahore's residence where the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers were also present by his side on Saturday evening, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman said only fresh elections can steer the country out of economic crisis.

"We are heading towards default and only fresh and fair polls is a solution to Pakistan's economic problems," he said as he announced the date for the dissolution of provincial assemblies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led government has declared that the next general elections will be held after this government completes its tenure in August 2023.

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Khan said whether or not the ruling PML-N coalition government agrees to conduct fresh elections across the country, his announcement will make sure that 65 per cent of Pakistan will go into polls after the dissolution of both assemblies.