LAHORE – The election for Punjab Assembly speaker and deputy speaker is set to take place today, following the swearing-in of newly-elected members of the provincial assembly.
The secretary of outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan announced that the elections for speaker and deputy speaker will be conducted via a secret ballot today at 4:00 pm, in accordance with Rules 9 and 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has put forward Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan as its nominee for Punjab Assembly speaker, competing against Sunni Ittehad Council’s Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar. In the deputy speaker race, PML-N’s Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer will contest against SIC’s Moeen Riaz. The nomination papers of all candidates have been accepted after scrutiny.
Over 300 MPAs-elect in Punjab took oath on Friday, marking the beginning of the new journey for the Punjab Assembly post the February 8 general elections. Despite a delay of more than two hours, the crucial Punjab Assembly session commenced, with 215 PML-N and allied members and 97 opposition members present. Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan administered the oath to the newly-elected members.
The session to elect the chief minister, speaker, and deputy speaker was initially delayed without a given reason. Speaker Sibtain Khan clarified that the election of the chief minister, speaker, and deputy speaker would be held in the next session, as the Election Commission of Pakistan had yet to decide on reserved seats.
PTI’s candidate for chief minister, Mian Aslam Iqbal, was unable to attend the assembly session, while the PPP named Haider Gilani as parliamentary leader. PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Khan is anticipated to be named speaker of the provincial assembly.
PML-N sources suggest that Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan is likely to be appointed as speaker instead of Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, former central information secretary, took oath as an MPA and is expected to assist Maryam Nawaz in assuming the role of chief minister. PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif have decided to appoint Marriyum Aurangzeb in Punjab to play her role.
In the assembly, treasury members have been assigned seats on the right of the speaker, while opposition members occupy seats on the left.
