Islamabad:
In a move towards national reconciliation, Pakistan government on Monday ended Governor's Rule in Punjab, paving the way for the opposition PML-N to return to power in the politically crucial province.
After President Asif Ali Zardari signed a document on ending Governor's Rule in Punjab, the cabinet division issued a formal notification to revoke federal rule in the province.
The move came after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held a meeting with Zardari on Sunday to discuss the lifting of Governor's Rule, which was imposed on February 25 after the Supreme Court barred PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother, former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, from electoral politics.
The notification issued by the cabinet division said Governor's Rule was being lifted as the President was "satisfied that the grounds on which he (imposed the measure) on the 25th February 2009 have ceased to exist".
Following the ending of Governor's Rule, Governor Salman Taseer said he had summoned a session of the Punjab assembly at 4 pm on April 1 to elect a new Chief Minister. Zardari has already promised that PPP will support any PML-N candidate for chief ministership.