Newly-elect MPAs sworn in to 18th Punjab Assembly

The first session of the 18th Punjab Assembly ended on Friday after newly-elected members of the provincial legislature took oath following their election in the February 8 polls.  

Outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan administered oath to the newly-elected members of the Punjab Assembly.

The elections to choose a speaker and deputy speaker will be held tomorrow (Saturday) through secret balloting.

Nomination papers for the provincial constitutional posts will be gathered and scrutinised today.

Outgoing Speaker Sibtain Khan urged those in the gallery to “not spoil the atmosphere”.

“[...] God also give you all courage to listen to each other patiently,” Sibtain said.

The inaugural session of the assembly started with the anti-Imran and anti-Nawaz slogans as PTI and PML-N exhanged heated words for each other.

On the other hand, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), which has given cover to PTI-backed independent candidates, claimed that police have barred its members from entering the assembly.

As PML-N's nominee for Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz reached the Assembly, she expressed hope of serving people if she assumes the office.

However, PTI's nominee for the coveted posts couldn't reach the Assembly as the party claimed that heavy contingents of police were deployed outside the provincial legislature to arrest Mian Aslam Iqbal and other elected leaders.