High stakes as Punjab readies for CM vote today

PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz vies with PTI’s Rana Aftab for position of provincial chief minister

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly prepares for a showdown today between the PML-N candidate for the provincial chief minister's position, Maryam Nawaz, and Rana Aftab, whom the PTI selected for the coveted role after its initial nominee, Mian Aslam, faced threats of arrest.

On Sunday, the legislature's speaker, Malik Ahmed Khan, deemed the nomination papers submitted by Maryam and Aftab as valid after scrutiny. He subsequently announced an election for the Punjab chief minister's post during Monday's assembly session.

Earlier, PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz submitted her nomination papers to Punjab Assembly Secretary Chaudhry Amir Habib. The deadline for submissions was 5 pm.

On Sunday, Rana Aftab also met with Speaker Khan after the verification of his nomination papers.

Later, addressing the media, he lamented the alleged disallowance of PTI members from attending the assembly session. "For us, the lives of our workers are more precious than posts," he said, urging authorities to permit PTI MPAs to participate in the election for the leader of the house. He expressed confidence in winning the CM's seat in Monday's election.

Read also: May you be the best: Iffat Omar congratulates Maryam Nawaz on becoming first woman CM of Punjab

The PTI named Rana Aftab as its new candidate for Punjab chief minister following attempts by Punjab Police to arrest its previous nominee, Mian Aslam.

PTI Secretary General Hammad Azhar wrote on X that Mian Aslam had been nominated by the party's founder, Imran Khan, but due to Punjab Police's presence to arrest him, the leadership altered its plan. He stated that PTI, in consultation with Mian Aslam, nominated Rana Aftab as the new candidate.

Azhar detailed Rana Aftab's background, stating he has been elected to the Punjab Assembly five times. He claimed the party has the support of 212 MPAs, while PML-N only has 40 "true members" according to Form 45.

Describing the PML-N as a "democracy raider," Azhar alleged that the rest of its members in the assembly were the result of "rejected February 9 forgeries."

In response, PML-N central spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb claimed the PTI's change in the nominee for Punjab chief minister was its first "U-turn”. She stated that after her election, Maryam would announce a development roadmap and measures for women's uplift.

The arrest saga

On Wednesday, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) granted protective bail to Mian Aslam in 18 cases related to last year's May 9 riots in Punjab and Islamabad.

However, Punjab Police attempted to arrest him from the court premises, leading Aslam to disguise himself as a lawyer and seek refuge at the K-P speaker's house.

Mian Aslam later criticized the Punjab Police's actions, stating the Constitution and law were disregarded. The PHC had previously directed legal action against Punjab Police if they attempted a similar arrest.