In a session marked by various developments, newly elected members of the Punjab Assembly took their oath on Friday after a significant delay. Outgoing speaker Sibtain Khan administered the oath to approximately 215 lawmakers from the PML-N and allied parties, along with 98 lawmakers supported by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and PTI.
Speaker Khan also announced the schedule for the election of the new speaker and deputy speaker, set to be held on Saturday. The process includes submission and scrutiny of nomination papers, with the election scheduled for February 24 via secret ballot. Nominees for the speaker position include Malik Mohammad Ahmed from PML-N and Ahmed Khan Picher from SIC, while contenders for the deputy speaker role are Malik Zaheer Iqbal and Mohammad Moinuddin Riaz.
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Following the oath-taking, Speaker Khan urged lawmakers to maintain a positive atmosphere and encouraged them to listen to each other patiently. However, tensions arose earlier in the session due to reports of the arrest of Mian Aslam, a PTI-backed independent lawmaker and nominee for chief minister, prompting Speaker Khan to request a status report on Aslam’s situation from the police.
During the session, PML-N lawmakers advocated for proceeding with the oath administration, while opposition members called for adjournment, citing unresolved issues related to the allocation of reserve seats. The session was briefly adjourned until after Friday prayers.
Speaker Khan expressed concerns about a perceived lack of a level playing field for certain lawmakers, indicating his intention to address obstacles faced by PTI-backed independent candidates. He emphasized the importance of facilitating all representatives’ access to the assembly.
Meanwhile, the PML-N has nominated Maryam Nawaz as its candidate for chief minister, aiming to secure sufficient support to form the government despite challenges from PTI-backed independents disputing election results in various Punjab constituencies. Despite obtaining 137 seats in the February 8 elections, the PML-N asserts it has the backing of over 190 MPAs, including those from reserved seats, to establish governance in Punjab.
