LAHORE: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Saturday said that an agreement has been reached on assembly dissolution date and scrutiny period of the electoral candidates with Dr Tahirul Qadri who will also be consulted over nomination of the caretaker prime minister, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives after meeting with the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri along with a high level government delegation, he said consensus has been evolved on dissolution of assemblies on March 16 as well as on a 14-day long scrutiny period for the electoral candidates.

Kaira said that it was requested by the government delegation that a period of 14 days instead of 30 days was enough and Dr Qadri accepted the request after consulting his team, however, elections would be held in 60 days after announcement of the caretaker setup.

Law Minister Farooq H. Naek, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Senator Syed Mushahid Hussain accompanied Kaira in the meeting, held to review progress on implementation of the “Islamabad Long March Declaration.”

Qadri on Jan 17 had announced an end to a four-day anti-government protest of thousands of people after striking a deal with the government.

Speaking on Supreme Court’s refusal to hear his petition on reconstitution of the election commission, Qadri said some elements are wrongly accusing him on media for working on an agenda to delay the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile commenting on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers joining N-League, Kaira said eight out of nine MPAs had already joined the PML-N earlier, “So Mian brothers haven’t achieved anything remarkable.”

The MPAs, four of them from south Punjab, had announced their decision to join the opposition party after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday.