Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), declared on Saturday that the assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be dissolved on December 23. (Friday).

The PTI leader made the statement while addressing the party's workers and supporters via video link from his home in Lahore's Zaman Park, where he was joined by Chief Ministers of Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan.

In response, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira reaffirmed that the government's position is still in place, calling for elections for the dissolved legislatures and by-elections on the vacant seats.

There were rumours that CM Elahi would not support the PTI chairman's choice before Imran announced the date, but the chief minister denied the rumours and swore to support "all of Imran Khan's decisions."

Imran thanked both chief ministers in his speech today for "sacrificing" their respective ministries for the "betterment of the nation" and declared that his party would now launch its election campaign.

"I have also spoken to my lawyers [...] it would be against the regulations to delay the polls past 90 days," he added, warning the government against using techniques to postpone the elections.

"The Pakistani Constitution mandates that the ECP always be prepared to hold elections in 90 days. Knowing that it will make an effort,

Imran declared that the "battle should not cease" and that, after recovering from the wounds he received on November 3 during an attempted assassination attempt in Wazirabad, he will return to the streets.

66% of Pakistan would go toward elections once we leave the assembly, he said, adding that a poll indicates that 70% of the country favours early elections.

The PTI leader further criticised the current coalition by declaring that "the government will not even organise elections in October [2023]."

"They are working along with the election commission. Imran attacked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja without naming him, claiming that a very dishonest man was associated with them and would advise them on how to postpone elections.