K-P Assembly holds crucial session today

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is set to convene today, Wednesday, with a three-point agenda. The session will witness the oath-taking of approximately 113 newly elected Provincial Members of the Assembly (PMAs), administered by Speaker Mustaq Ghani. Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, exercising authority under Article 109 of the Constitution, has called for the assembly meeting on February 28.

The newly sworn-in members will also elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, as well as the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader. The assembly secretariat has extended invitations to guests for the oath-taking ceremony, while a limited number of cards have been issued to media personnel. In the house, the Sunni Ithihad Council (SIC) holds 87 seats, with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) each holding nine seats.

K-P Chief Minister-designate Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed to reignite the wheels of development in the province under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. He affirmed the reinstatement of the Sehat Insaf Card for the public welfare, highlighting the paramount importance of restoring law and order.

During discussions with former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai and newly elected members of the provincial assembly Fazal Hakeem Khan, Idressh Khatta, and Muhammad Naeem, Gandapur criticized the previous government’s decision to close panagahs for the poor, pledging to reverse it.

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Gandapur emphasized his administration’s commitment to bridging the development gap between far-flung and urban districts, prioritizing the rapid development of underprivileged areas.

“Ensuring enduring peace is non-negotiable, with law and order topping our agenda,” Gandapur asserted. He also expressed intentions to make the province more appealing to foreign investors, aiming to spur economic growth and prosperity.

Despite facing challenges from a federal government opposed to PTI, Chief Minister-designate Ali Amin Gandapur remains resolute in securing the province’s rights from the federation. He acknowledges the indispensable role of these rights in propelling the province towards development.

“We are committed to negotiating with the federal government to ensure the province receives its due rights,” Gandapur affirmed, recognizing the pivotal role these rights play in the province’s progress.

Expressing dismay over the discontinuation of free medical treatment under the Sehat Insaf Card and the closure of panagahs for the poor by the caretaker government, Gandapur pledged their restoration under the new PTI administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2024.