Maryam Nawaz, the Senior Vice President and chief organizer of PML-N, has secured a historic victory by becoming the inaugural female Chief Minister of Punjab. In a groundbreaking achievement, she is not only the first woman to hold this esteemed position in Punjab but also the first across all provinces in the nation’s history.
Notably, Maryam Nawaz garnered strong support with an impressive 220 votes.The process, however, faced disruptions as lawmakers from the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) staged two walkouts during the proceedings, protesting the Speaker’s decision not to allow their candidate, Rana Aftab Iqbal, to discuss a point of order before the commencement of the election. Therefore, the opposition candidate Aftab Ahmed received no votes in the election.
Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan, presiding over the session, tactfully responded to the disruptions by forming a six-member committee with the aim of persuading the protesting SIC lawmakers to return to the House. Despite the interruptions, the assembly successfully convened to fulfill its primary purpose – the election of a new Chief Minister for the province of Punjab.
The scheduled session experienced a delayed start of more than 30 minutes, leading to the announcement of the voting process. This triggered protests from SIC lawmakers, resulting in their boycott of the election when the bell rang to signal the initiation of voting. Notably, Maryam Nawaz, representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), arrived at the assembly accompanied by her party’s MPs, prominently displaying a placard featuring a picture of her father and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
Within the context of the Punjab Assembly’s composition of 327 seats, the N-league asserted the support of 224 lawmakers, while the SIC claimed the support of 103 MPs. The threshold for a candidate to ascend to the position of Leader of the House was set at 186 votes. The voting process involved dividing the House into two factions, each aligned with a respective candidate. The conclusion of the voting was signaled by ringing bells, after which members returned to their seats, and the candidate with the majority of votes was declared the winner.
Following Maryam Nawaz’s successful election, the subsequent steps included the speaker informing the governor about the swearing-in ceremony. The nomination papers of both Maryam Nawaz and Rana Aftab were scrutinized and accepted on Sunday by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan, paving the way for this historic political transition in Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz’s experiences and challenges over the past several years have served as a comprehensive political education, uniquely preparing her for the crucial role she now assumes. Punjab, a sprawling province with diverse requirements and widening economic gaps, presents untapped potential along with a blend of traditional and modern elements. Effectively addressing these needs and unlocking the province’s economic possibilities demands a robust leader with a dynamic approach. The last individual to exhibit such effective leadership in Punjab was Shehbaz Sharif. Although his son, Hamza Shehbaz, proved to be a capable party organizer, he couldn’t replicate the same efficiency in the chief minister’s office. Thus, whether by fate or circumstance, the responsibility has now fallen on Maryam Nawaz’s shoulders – the newest addition to the leadership hierarchy of the PML-N.
