LAHORE: Punjab Assembly is set to witness one-to-one contest for post of Chief Minister today as nomination papers of PML-N nominee Maryam Nawaz and Sunni Ittehad Council’s Rana Aftab were declared valid after scrutiny.

Malik Ahmed Khan did verification of nomination papers. He said that election for coveted slot will be held in today’s assembly session.

Maryam Nawaz, political scion of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, was nominated as party’s candidate for coveted position of Chief Minister of country’s most populous province, Punjab. Meanwhile, PTI-at eleventh hour named Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan as its new candidate for post following provincial police’s attempt to arrest its earlier nominee, Mian Aslam Iqbal. PTI leader Hammad Azhar noted that party founder Imran Khan had earlier nominated Mian Aslam Iqbal for post but heavy contingents of police force were deployed outside Punjab Assembly to arrest him.

Citing situation, Hammad Azhar said that party leadership decided to nominate Rana Aftab after holding consultations with former. Sunni Ittehad Council’s candidate for Punjab CM slot, Rana Aftab met Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan after verification of his nomination papers.

Speaking to journalists, Rana Aftab condemned that SIC members are not being allowed in assemblies. “For us, lives of our workers are dearer than posts,” he said, expressing confidence in winning CM’s seat in Monday’s election. He urged authorities concerned to let SIC’s elected MPAs to join assembly for election of leader of House.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 26 2024

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