Today marks a crucial day in the political landscape of Punjab as the decision on who will be crowned the chief minister hangs in the balance.
A session of the Punjab Assembly is scheduled for 11am, with the election of the leader of the House taking center stage on the agenda. With a majority of 186 members required to be elected as the chief minister of the province, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appears in a very comfortable position with the support of 224 members out of a house of 327.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan is slated to preside over the crucial session where the fate of Punjab's leadership will be decided. The contenders for the coveted position of chief minister include PML-N's Maryam Nawaz and Sunni Ittehad Council's Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan, setting the stage for a keenly contested battle.
As per the current composition of the Punjab Assembly, the PML-N holds a significant majority with 224 members, while the Sunni Ittehad Council boasts 103 members. To clinch victory in the election for the leader of the House, a majority of at least 186 members is required in the House of 327 members.
Both parties gear up for the crucial showdown. Prior to the assembly meeting, they had scheduled separate parliamentary party meetings to strategize and garner support for their respective candidates.
Meanwhile, prior to departing for the assembly session, Maryam Nawaz paid a visit to the family graveyard and prayed at the graves of her paternal grandparents and mother and laid flowers.
Moreover, the Punjab Police inspector general of police reached the provincial assembly premises and reviewed the security detail for the chief minister nominee, "No unrelated individual will be allowed to enter the premises," he stressed.
