Newly elected representatives were sworn into the Punjab Assembly amidst protests and delays on Friday. The session, called by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman, was held after the Election Commission of Pakistan partially notified lawmakers on seats reserved for women and minorities.
The Punjab Assembly, the largest elected house in the country with 371 seats, consists of 297 general seats and 74 reserved seats (66 for women and 8 for minorities). The ECP has issued notifications for 42 reserved seats for women and 5 for minorities so far.
The session, scheduled to start at 10 am, was delayed by over two hours and paused for Friday prayers when it finally began. Outgoing Punjab Assembly speaker Sibtain Khan administered the oath to the newly elected MPAs and offered his congratulations.
Members from various parties, including PML-N’s nominee for Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz and PTI leader Aamir Dogar, attended the session. A total of 193 PML-N members and 98 members of the Sunni Ittehad Council, along with members from other parties, took the oath.
Elections for the speaker and deputy speaker will be held via secret ballot the following day, as announced by the speaker’s secretary. A four-member panel was formed to chair proceedings in the absence of the speaker and deputy speaker.
Protests and face-offs between PTI and PML-N members were reported outside the assembly. Amid the chaos, Sibtain Khan ensured that all newly elected lawmakers would be allowed to attend the session.
Top offices, including the nominations for the speaker and deputy speaker positions, were submitted by members of PML-N and SIC. The PML-N nominated Maryam for chief minister, while PTI nominated Mian Aslam Iqbal. Results from the Feb 8 election showed PML-N securing 138 general seats and PTI-backed independents claiming 114.
The PML-N secured 36 seats for women and five seats for minorities, while other parties also received reserved seats. The PML-N’s total number of MPAs has reached 199, comfortably above the required simple majority.