The Punjab Assembly is set to hold elections today for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker through a secret ballot in the Assembly Chambers. The announcement, made by the outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan’s secretary, specifies that the elections will take place at 4:00 pm under Rules 9 and 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan for the role of Punjab Assembly speaker, competing against Sunni Ittehad Council’s Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar. Similarly, for the position of deputy speaker, PML-N’s Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer will face SIC’s Moeen Riaz. The nomination papers for both pairs have been accepted after scrutiny.
In the inaugural session, Speaker Sibtain Khan administered the oath to 313 newly elected Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman had earlier summoned the inaugural session following the general elections held on February 8.
The election for the new speaker and deputy speaker is a significant development in the formation of the Punjab Assembly, and the process is expected to be conducted transparently through a secret ballot.
