Today marks a significant moment in the political landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as 116 newly elected members of the provincial assembly have taken oath.
Preparations had been finalized to welcome the incoming representatives of the 14th assembly. Speaker Mushtaq Ghani presided over the oath-taking ceremony, administering the oath to the members. He also announced that the election for the speaker and deputy speaker would be held tomorrow.
However, shortly before the assembly session was set to commence, PTI workers forcefully entered the galleries and attempted to get to the House. The PTI workers created a ruckus and commotion, pushing and shoving each other due to which the members-elect could not reach their seats.
PML-N lawmaker Sobia Shahid showed a watch, shoe, and lota to the elected PTI members, who retaliated by throwing shoes, pens and a lota at her.
The session was then adjourned till 10am on Thursday.
Among the incoming members, the Sunni Ittehad Council holds the majority with 87 seats, followed by nine members from JUI-F, eight from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and five from the Pakistan Peoples Party. Additionally, there is one member each from PTI-P and ANP, while three independent members, including the nominated chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, are also part of the assembly.
Meanwhile, the PTI nominated Babar Saleem Swati as its candidate for the KP speaker's slot. This was announced by the party's chief organiser Omar Ayub Khan.
Security measures have been meticulously planned to ensure the safety of the proceedings and those in attendance. According to SSP (Operations) Kashif Aftab, over 350 police personnel, under the supervision of two SSPs, along with logistics support and ATS troops, including sniper, Elite, and Albarq Force, will be deployed.
Furthermore, a Reserve and QRF force will be on standby to respond to any unforeseen circumstances, he added.
In anticipation of potential protests outside the Assembly, a separate security plan has been devised. SSP Aftab says he has been in contact with protest leaders to ensure peaceful demonstrations.
The commencement of the first session of the newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly signifies the beginning of a new chapter in the province's governance. With diverse representation and robust security measures in place, all eyes are on Peshawar as the democratic process unfolds.
