Newly-elected MNAs take oath amid PTI-SIC protest

The newly-elected members of the National Assembly were sworn in on Thursday in the maiden session amidst a protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers.

The oath to the lawmakers of the 16th National Assembly was administered by the outgoing Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

The inaugural session, which started with a delay of an hour, commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran and Naat-e-Rasool (PBUH).

At the outset of the session, PTI-SIC lawmakers staged a protest against the alleged rigging in February 8 polls by surrounding the speaker's dias.

However, the former ruling lawmakers settled down to take oath at the request of the Speaker.

Following the oath-taking ceremony, PTI-backed lawmakers started chanting pro-Imran Khan slogans in the lower house of the parliament.

In response, the PML-N MNAs shouted "ghari chor" (watch thief) slogans in the House.

However, the center point of the session was PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif as he took oath after 7 years of his disqualification in the Panama Papers case.

Earlier, the inaugural session was marred by controversy when President Arif Alvi declined to sign the summary, seeking a session on February 29.

However, just hours ago of the session, the president signed the summary after the political parties warned him of legal consequences.

The newly-sworn Assembly will elect its speaker and deputy speaker on March 1 (Friday).

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have decided to form a coalition government under a power-sharing agreement.

While PTI, who has a majority in the House, will sit on opposition benches.

PPP and PML-N fielded Shehbaz Sharif as their candidate for the premiership, while PTI-SIC nominated Omar Ayub Khan for the coveted post.

The election to choose the head of the house will be held on March 4 (Monday).