Punjab Assembly
In a significant political development, the Punjab Assembly is set to conduct the election for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker today, with the process scheduled for 4 pm. The election, crucial for determining the leadership of the assembly, will be conducted through a secret ballot.
The main contenders for the position of Speaker are Malik Ahmed from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Ahmed Khan from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Similarly, the competition for the Deputy Speaker position features Zaheer Iqbal and Moin Riaz.
This electoral showdown comes as a pivotal moment in the political landscape, reflecting the dynamic power play between the PML-N and its allied parties, particularly the SIC, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independents. The outcome of these elections will shape the leadership structure of the Punjab Assembly.
In the lead-up to the elections, 313 Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) took their oaths on Friday, with 215 belonging to the PML-N and its allies, and 98 PTI-backed independents forming a coalition under the banner of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
The outgoing Punjab Assembly Speaker, Sibtain Khan, administered the oath, marking the official commencement of the new assembly’s activities. The session, however, experienced a delayed start of over two hours due to the tardy arrival of the speaker.
Despite the delay, the proceedings proceeded with the historic parliamentary debut of Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister-in-waiting, adding an extra layer of significance to the inauguration of the new assembly.
As the election day unfolds, political observers are keenly watching the developments, anticipating the outcome that will set the tone for governance in the province and have broader implications for the political landscape of Pakistan.
