As a first sign of transfer of power following the February 8 general elections, the maiden session of the newly-elected Punjab Assembly was called on Friday (tomorrow-February 23), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman on Thursday signed the summary for summoning the session of the 18th Punjab Assembly on Friday at 10:00 am.
During the session, the newly-elected members of the Punjab Assembly will take oath and the date to elect a speaker and deputy speaker of the House will be announced.
Later on, the newly-elected MPAs will vote for a leader of the House. The contest appeared to be one-sided affair as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has simple majority in the assembly.
However, PML-N candidate for Punjab chief executive’s post is Maryam Nawaz while the rival PTI has named Mian Aslam Iqbal for the chief minister’s slot.
The announcement for the inaugural session of the Punjab Assembly comes a day after the PML-N held its parliamentary meeting at the Jati Umra in Lahore which was addressed by PML-N nominee for chief minister’s slot Maryam Nawaz.
As many as 218 members reportedly attended the meeting after which the PML-N CM-hopeful said: “A new era will usher in Punjab. I congratulate the PML-N for securing victory.”
If voted into power, Maryam will become the first woman to be elected as a chief minister in Pakistan’s history.
Reporter Awais Kiyani