PTI takes back Aslam Iqbal’s name for Punjab CM slot over arrest fears

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has changed its nominee for the position of chief minister of Punjab fearing arrest of Mian Aslam Iqbal. 

A statement from the PTI's official account mentioned, "The police of the entire province are present around the Assembly to arrest him. In this situation, the party leadership, in consultation with Mian Aslam Iqbal, has nominated Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan for the election of the chief minister."

Mian Aslam Iqbal had obtained a transit bail from the Peshawar High Court to shield himself from arrest. However, the party expressed that the police had been deployed around the Punjab Assembly with the intention of arresting the PTI leader.

Iqbal was among several PTI leaders declared absconders in the May 9 case, with an anti-terrorism court in Lahore labeling 11 PTI candidates as absconders on May 9, 2023.

In the inaugural session on Friday, 85 members of the PTI who joined the Sunni Ittehad Council were sworn in. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has put forward Maryam Nawaz as its candidate for the position of chief minister.

Earlier, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been elected as the speaker, and Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer as the deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

Malik Ahmad Khan secured 224 votes, defeating Sunni Ittehad Council’s Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, who managed to garner only 96 votes.

Similarly, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer clinched 220 votes, surpassing Sunni Ittehad Council’s Moeen Riaz, who obtained 103 votes.