PML-N pits Ahmad Khan against SIC's Bhachar for PA speaker's slot
Pakistan
Elections for speaker, deputy speaker via secret ballot tomorrow
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The PML-N is pitting party leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan against Sunni Ittehad Council’s Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar for the coveted slot of Punjab Assembly speaker.
According to sources, the nomination papers of both the contestants have been accepted by the secretary of outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan after scrutiny.
Similarly, PML-N’s Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer will contest against SIC’s Moeen Riaz for the office of deputy speaker. Their nomination papers have also been accepted after completion of scrutiny.
As per an announcement by the secretary of outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan, elections for the speaker and deputy speaker will be held via a secret ballot on Saturday (tomorrow) under Rules 9 and 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997.
The session of the MPAs-elect was summoned by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) partially notified lawmakers on seats reserved for minorities and women.
Interacting with media on the Punjab Assembly premises, PML-N leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan criticised the PTI whose members have now joined the SIC for resorting to protest and crying foul over alleged “rigging”.
He said if there was no case registered against Mian Aslam Iqbal, PTI’s nominee for the slot of Punjab chief minister, he should have joined the session.
Earlier in the day, more than 300 MPAs-elect in Punjab took oath pledging to serve the country to the best of their abilities.
The swearing-in ceremony meant the Punjab Assembly has begun its fresh journey after the Feb 8 general elections.
The crucial Punjab Assembly session got underway after a delay of more than two hours.
As many as 215 members of the PML-N and allies reached the assembly which saw sloganeering and protest by the Sunni Ittehad Council members. The two sides raised slogans against each other. There were 97 members of the opposition.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan administered oath to the newly-elected members.
