LAHORE: PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz signs oath papers in Punjab Assembly.—MM file photo
LAHORE: As the Punjab Assembly braces for a decisive moment, the stage is set for a showdown between PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz and PTI’s Rana Aftab in the race for the provincial chief minister’s position.
Following scrutiny by the assembly’s speaker, Malik Ahmed Khan, both Maryam Nawaz and Rana Aftab’s nomination papers have been validated, paving the way for an election during Monday’s session. Maryam Nawaz, the PML-N’s Senior Vice President, submitted her nomination papers to Punjab Assembly Secretary Chaudhry Amir Habib before the submission deadline, signaling a determined bid for the coveted role.
Meanwhile, Rana Aftab, the PTI’s new nominee after the withdrawal of Mian Aslam due to threats of arrest, expressed confidence in securing the chief minister’s seat during Monday’s election, despite alleged hurdles faced by PTI members in attending the assembly session. The PTI’s Secretary General, Hammad Azhar, defended the party’s decision to nominate Rana Aftab, citing his extensive experience as a five-time elected member of the Punjab Assembly and asserting PTI’s majority support.
In response, PML-N’s central spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, criticized PTI’s nomination switch as its first “U-turn,” reaffirming Maryam Nawaz’s commitment to unveiling a development agenda and initiatives for women’s empowerment upon her election. The unfolding political drama also involves legal entanglements, with Mian Aslam, PTI’s initial nominee, obtaining protective bail in 18 cases related to last year’s riots, yet facing attempted arrest by Punjab Police, prompting criticism and allegations of constitutional violations.
