- Chaos mars KP Assembly’s inaugural session wherein 115 members take oath
- Both provincial assemblies to election speaker and deputy speaker on Thursday (tomorrow)
PESHAWAR/QUETTA: The newly-elected members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan assemblies were sworn in on Wednesday while the election for Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held on Thursday (tomorrow).
In Peshawar, the maiden session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was marred by chaos by workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Scheduled for an 11 AM start, the session quickly descended into disarray due to the sheer number of guests accompanying the members. With over 800 passes issued for a limited-capacity hall, pandemonium erupted even before proceedings began. Members struggled to enter, encountering obstructions from the large crowd, resulting in a temporary hold-up at the entrance. Eventually, they gained access with the help of their party workers.
Adding to the prevailing chaos, a Muslim League-Nawaz worker, Sobia Shahid, arrived brandishing a clock, sparking a retaliatory response from PTI supporters who threw water bottles, shoes, and even a lota (metal jug) at her. Amidst this commotion, Shahid continued to display the clock defiantly.
In KP, around 115 newly elected representatives took oath in a session marred by ruckus. The meeting of the provincial legislature was summoned by KP Governor Ghulam Ali last week following advice from the caretaker Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah.
The speaker administered the oath to the MPAs-elect in Urdu and congratulated them. The members who were sworn in included 87 PTI-backed SIC lawmakers, nine members from JUI-F, eight from PML-N, five from PPP, two from PTI-Parliamentarians and four independents.
As the assembly hall overflowed with eager spectators, some forced their way in, with others gaining unauthorized entry. Heated arguments and physical altercations erupted amongst the crowd, with those finding an opportunity escaping back to their seats.
Police intervened to restore order, ultimately closing the assembly gate due to the escalating disorder. However, determined party workers managed to bypass these measures, entering the premises through alternate routes. Even media representatives faced difficulties gaining access, while many newly elected members encountered parking problems.
Despite the disturbances, the swearing-in ceremony proceeded, led by Speaker Mushtaq Ghani, who began with prayers for the deceased PTI workers. He then administered the oath to the 115 newly elected members. Following the ceremony, Ghani announced that nominations for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions would be accepted until 5 PM, with a deadline for withdrawals set for midnight. The election for these positions is scheduled for February 29th at 10 AM.
Balochistan Assembly
The session of the Balochistan Assembly, summoned by Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar, commenced at 3pm. Ahead of the meeting, special security arrangements in and around the assembly building were made.
The session was chaired by a senior member of the assembly, Zamrak Khan Achakzai, after outgoing speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali excused himself over health concerns and other engagements.
Around 57 newly elected lawmakers of the Balochistan Assembly were sworn in.
Meanwhile, former federal minister Sarfraz Bugti, ex-Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal Khan and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani remained absent from the session as they were not in Quetta.
Following the oath, Achakzai announced that the election of the Balochistan Assembly speaker and deputy speaker will be held tomorrow at 3pm through a secret ballot. He added that nomination papers for the slot can be filed by Thursday noon.
The PPP has nominated MPA Ghazala Gola as the Balochistan Assembly deputy speaker.
Ahead of the meeting of the provincial legislature today, supporters of the four-party alliance — comprising Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, National Party and Hazara Democratic Party — gathered in front of the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation against alleged rigging in the February 8 elections.
The protesters later marched towards the Balochistan Assembly but were stopped after the police cordoned off the GPO Chowk with containers.
A day earlier, assembly officials decided not to allow guests in the first session of the provincial legislature due to security reasons on Feb 28.
