PML-N wins speaker, deputy speaker slots in PA

SIC denounces 'unconstitutional' Punjab Assembly proceedings sans absence of MPA-elects on reserved seats

PML-N's leader Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan on Saturday clinched victory in the Punjab Assembly Speaker election, amassing a commanding 224 votes out of the total 327 cast in the house numerically dominated by his party – with missing votes casting a shadow over the results and leaving members on both the aisle scratching their heads.

At the same time, Malik Zaheer Ahmed Channer, the PML-N candidate for the deputy speaker position, emerged victorious against Mohammad Moinuddin from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), garnering 220 votes.Meanwhile, Ahmad Khan Bhachar, the candidate from the SIC, secured 96 votes, with two votes rejected out of the total 322 ballots cast during the polling.

Following his election, Khan promptly took the oath of his new post, marking the commencement of his responsibilities as the Punjab Assembly Speaker.

The upcoming session of the provincial legislature will witness the election of the chief minister.

The dramatic session, marred by protests inside and outside the legislative building, saw heated exchanges between PML-N and SIC members.

Under the chairmanship of the outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan, the second session of the newly-elected provincial assembly witnessed heated exchanges.

To maintain law and order during the assembly session, a substantial deployment of police and prison vans was observed outside the legislative premises.

All 327 members participated in the voting process, contributing to the democratic selection of the speaker. However, the assembly meeting did not escape the fervour of political differences, with both sides engaging in passionate slogans against each other, while the matter of absence of MPAs-elect on the reserved seats fuelled the tensions in the house.

Assembly Secretary Aamir Habib guided the members through the election procedures, with three designated booths facilitating the voting process. The booths accommodated members from various constituencies, ensuring a systematic and fair electoral process.

It's noteworthy that the PML-N has a substantial number of candidates, adding to the competitive nature of the election. The oath-taking ceremony occurred the day prior, with 321 out of 371 members of the Punjab Assembly taking their oaths.

In the current composition of the provincial assembly, the PML-N leads with 193 members, followed by the Sunni Ittehad Council as the second-largest party with 98 members. Additionally, there are 13 members from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), 10 members from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), five members from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and one member each from Tehreek-e-Labbaik and Pakistan Muslim League-Ziaul Haq in the Punjab Assembly.

The Punjab Assembly, boasting 371 seats, consisting of 297 general seats and 74 reserved seats (66 for women and eight for minorities), holds the distinction of being the largest elected house in the country.

To date, the ECP has issued notifications for 42 reserved seats for women and five for minorities.

‘Unconstitutional proceedings’

Earlier in the session, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the leader of SIC, denounced the assembly proceedings as "unconstitutional" and "illegal" due to the absence of the party's MPA-elects on reserved seats.

Raza asserted that SIC members were being prevented from participating in the assembly sessions. "We will not allow the PA proceedings to continue without members on the reserved seats."

Also read: Curtain raises on Punjab Assembly

Simultaneously, Rana Aftab criticised the Punjab Assembly as "incomplete" and pledged to contest any House action in court. Speaking in the provincial assembly, the SIC leader highlighted that the ECP has yet to decide on 27 reserved seats for women and minorities.

"Mian Aslam, the PTI nominee for the Punjab chief minister slot, is not present in the House. He will contest the poll [for the chief minister] from our side," he added.

In response, the outgoing speaker clarified that he couldn't compel the election regulator to summon absentees, potentially requiring an adjournment of the session."I am stepping down from the chair [speaker's post] with dignity. I don't want to be labelled as someone who continuously adjourned the session," said Sibtain.

He pointed out the existence of 30 seats in the provincial legislature, comprising 27 reserved and three minority seats.

Sibtain expressed concern that if the ECP does not decide on the unnotified seats within the next six months, one party may approach the high court while the other might go to the Supreme Court.

In response to Aftab’s comments, PML-N’s nominee for the speaker’s position, Malik Muhammad Ahmad, clarified that the individuals mentioned by the SIC leader are not part of the House.

Referring to Article 254 of the Constitution, Ahmad emphasized the need to conduct elections for the speaker and deputy speaker positions.

The previous session marked the initiation of PML-N's chief minister nominee Maryam Nawaz's parliamentary journey, with 321 out of 371 elected members taking the oath as new MPAs. Of these, 221 belonged to the PML-N and its allied parties, 98 were members of the SIC, and one each from the TLP and PML-Zia.

It's worth noting that with the inclusion of 13 MPA-elects from PPP, 10 from PML-Q, and five from the Tehreek-e-Istehkam Party, PML-N has become the largest party in the Punjab Assembly.

With the majority, PML-N has announced its intention to form the government in the province with Maryam as its leader.