In the run-up to the formation of the provincial government, the stage is set for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker in the Punjab assembly. A session was convened at 4pm on Saturday in the assembly, with Speaker Sibtain Khan presiding over the proceedings.
The assembly session is set to commence shortly with a large number of treasury members, including chief minister nominee Maryam Nawaz, seated in the House. Reportedly, not a single opposition member, including the Sunni Ittehad Council-affiliated independent candidates backed by the PTI, have reached the assembly.
Security measures have been heightened in light of the accelerated political process, with instructions issued to keep vigilance at an all-time high. Lahore, the epicentre of the assembly's activities, is witnessing comprehensive security arrangements, ensuring the safety of all members.
The provincial police chief has ordered to keep security on high alert in the premises of the Punjab Assembly. He says complete security is being provided to all members. Security should be monitored under the supervision of the DIG operations, he directed.
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The PML-N and Sunni Ittehad Council are vying for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker. Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan of the PML-N and Malik Ahmad Bachhar of the Sunni Ittehad Council are competing for the coveted role of the speaker, while Zaheer Iqbal Channar of the PML-N and Moin Riaz of the Sunni Ittehad Council are in contention for the deputy speaker's position.
PML-N nominees Khan and Channar hold a notable advantage, given the overwhelming numbers their party enjoys in the assembly. Moreover, they have secured support from members of other political entities such as the Pakistan People's Party, PML-Q, and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), further bolstering their position.
With the election set to be conducted through a secret ballot, anticipation runs high within the political corridors of Punjab. The outcome of these elections is poised to shape the future trajectory of the provincial government, setting the tone for governance and legislative agendas in the region.
On Friday, 320 members of the Punjab Assembly took oath, and 17 remained absent.
