Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File 

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif will resign before starting his election campaign for a National Assembly seat, sources informed Geo News on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the high-level leadership of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) is also taking into consideration the option of nominating Shehbaz to contest from two other national seats along with Lahore's NA-120 constituency. 

However, Shehbaz has expressed his desire to contest the by-polls only from NA-120.

The seat was vacated after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified as the prime minister by the Supreme Court last week. 

The PML-N, in a meeting following Nawaz's dismissal, agreed that Shehbaz would become the premier once he becomes a member of the National Assembly. 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced by-polls on Lahore's NA-120 constituency for September 17. As per the schedule issued by the ECP on Tuesday, the nomination papers may be submitted between August 10 and 12.

The scrutiny of the papers will be held between August 15 and 17, while the final list of candidates will be issued on August 26.

Pakistan Tehreek Insaf has nominated Dr Yasmin Rashid as candidate contesting by-polls for NA-120.