Lahore: February 23, 2024:The Punjab assembly members took oath on Friday. With oath- taking of the newly elected members, the parliamentary process re-started in the Punjab after 13 months. The parliamentary process in the Punjab had obstructed in the Punjab some 13 months ago when Pakistan Tehreek- e- Insaf (PTI) dissolved the provincial assembly on the pretext to force the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold a fresh elections in the province. It was followed by dissolution of Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK) assembly by PTI. Again PTI had the same arguments to demand of ECP to hold fresh elections in the province.
PTI had reference of a constitution in support of its demand which restricts ECP to hold elections in any province or national assembly within 90 days from the day of their dissolution.
However, PTI could not convince ECP to accept its demand till the national assembly was dissolved in August last year and caretaker setup took over in the provinces and the centre.
Finally , ECP held country wide elections on February 8 and as per its mandate, the Punjab assembly first session was held here on Friday wherein the newly elected members were administrated the oath. Punjab assembly speaker Subtain Khan administrated the oath. The Punjab assembly will elect its speaker and deputy speaker on Saturday. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) has nominated Malik Ahmad for Punjab assembly speaker and for deputy speaker slot. PMLN has already nominated Maryam Nawaz for chief minister Punjab. PMLN and its allies have simple majority in the province . On the basis of statistics, PMLN is likely to win the contest for chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker in the Punjab.
Earlier, Punjab assembly turned into a mess due to sloganeering between PMLN and Majlis Amil Council (MAC) members . Both raised mouthful slogans against each other and at one time speaker, Subtain Khan, had to suspend proceedings of the assemely for some times. However, the speaker resumed the session after some times and administrated the oath form newly elected members of the assembly.
