Today marks a significant day in the Punjab Assembly as it gears up to elect its new chief minister. Maryam Nawaz, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is the frontrunner for the position. Her party holds a majority in the provincial assembly following the general elections on February 8.
Maryam’s victory would be a historic moment for Pakistan, as she would become the first woman to hold the position of chief minister.
The assembly session, scheduled for 11am, is yet to commence. The newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker, Malik Ahmad Khan, will oversee the proceedings.
Currently, the PML-N enjoys the support of 224 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs).
Maryam faces competition from Aftab Ahmad Khan, a senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the candidate put forth by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Aftab, backed by 103 MPAs, is a seasoned politician, having served three terms as a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA in the Punjab Assembly in 1988, 1993, and 2002. He joined the PTI in 2013 and is now in his fourth term.
To secure the chief minister’s position, a candidate must garner the support of the majority, which stands at 187 members in the current 327-seat house.
Both the PML-N and SIC are anticipated to conduct separate parliamentary party meetings before the assembly session.
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