Today marks the commencement of the first session of the newly elected House of the Sindh Assembly, with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani set to preside over the proceedings. In the run-up to the formation of the provincial government, the stage is set for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker in the Punjab assembly.
The newly elected members of the assembly are set to take oath today, followed by the crucial election for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker.
Among those who have started reaching the assembly are MQM-P’s Sikandar Khatoon, who has been elected for the first time, alongside fellow party representative Iftikhar Ahmed.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) holds a commanding lead with 114 seats in the House of 130 members, followed by the MQM with 36 seats, and smaller representations from the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Jamaat-e-Islami with three and two, respectively. However, it’s notable that the Election Commission of Pakistan has halted notifications for two seats reserved for women and one seat for minorities, leading to GDA and Jamaat-e-Islami members abstaining from taking the oath today.
Moreover, 11 PTI-backed MPAs have decided not to participate in today’s session, and the opposition alliance, which includes GDA, PTI, and Jamaat-e-Islami, has announced a protest outside the assembly.
To curb the protest, the police has set up pickets and barriers on Sharea Faisal.
Security arrangements
The security apparatus is on high alert for Saturday’s session, with strict arrangements in place. More than 1,000 personnel have been deployed, including officials with water canons and shell guns as well as women officers, around the Sindh Assembly premises.
Additionally, measures such as a ban on sit-in protests in the Red Zone have been enforced, with authorities warning of strict action against any violation the of law.
A traffic plan has also been prepared on the occasion of the Sindh Assembly session, as per the police.
Punjab Assembly speaker, deputy speaker to be elected today
In the run-up to the formation of the provincial government, the stage is set for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker in the Punjab assembly. A session has been convened at 4pm on Saturday in the assembly, with Speaker Sibtain Khan presiding over the proceedings.
Security measures have been heightened in light of the accelerated political process, with instructions issued to keep vigilance at an all-time high. Lahore, the epicentre of the assembly’s activities, is witnessing comprehensive security arrangements, ensuring the safety of all members.
The provincial police chief has ordered to keep security on high alert in the premises of the Punjab Assembly. He says complete security is being provided to all members. The security should be monitored under the supervision of the DIG operations, he directed.
The PML-N and Sunni Ittehad Council are vying for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker. Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan of the PML-N and Malik Ahmad Bachhar of the Sunni Ittehad Council are competing for the coveted role of the speaker, while Zaheer Iqbal Channar of the PML-N and Moin Riaz of the Sunni Ittehad Council are in contention for the deputy speaker’s position.
PML-N nominees Khan and Channar hold a notable advantage, given the overwhelming numbers their party enjoys in the assembly. Moreover, they have secured support from members of other political entities such as the Pakistan People’s Party, PML-Q, and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), further bolstering their position.
With the election set to be conducted through a secret ballot, anticipation runs high within the political corridors of Punjab. The outcome of these elections is poised to shape the future trajectory of the provincial government, setting the tone for governance and legislative agendas in the region.
On Friday, 320 members of the Punjab Assembly took oath, and 17 remained absent.
