The inaugural session of the newly elected National Assembly commenced with Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair to induct a fresh batch of lawmakers, who started arriving in the Parliament House before the scheduled time. The newly elected MNAs were administered the oath by the speaker after which they all also signed on the registration rolls. Moreover, the election for the Lower House speaker and deputy speaker will be held tomorrow, March 1. After the oath, the speaker first asked the candidates for speaker and deputy speaker to sign on the roll of members, which included PML-N Ayaz Sadiq and Awais Leghari. As per the official agenda, the session commenced with a recitation of the naat, the holy Quran and the national anthem. Following the national anthem, the Sunni Ittehad Council’s MNAs-elect gathered in front of the speaker’s dais and created a commotion with a strong protest with slogans and chants.

As a result, the PML-N members also responded with counter slogans  of "Ghari chor (watch thief)" against the PTI and its leadership. The Sunni Ittehad Council members were carrying posters of Imran Khan, while several leaders, including Barrister Gohar, were clad in masks depicting the former prime minister. On consistent sloganeering by PTI members, the speaker warned they would be evicted from the House. The National Assembly Secretariat has also issued the procedure for polling for the speaker and deputy speaker, which is set to take place on March 1. In order to avoid any mismanagement, the entry of political workers into parliament has been banned.

Arrivals

Among those arriving early were PML-N leader Khawaja Asif, Kheel Das Kohistani, and PTI-backed independent candidates Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul and Sher Afzal Marwat. PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, party leader Attaullah Tarar, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party President Aleem Khan along with party leaders Aun Chaudhry and Munazza Hassan have reached the assembly. Moreover, PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Hina Rabbani Khar and sister Aseefa Bhutto, Naz Baloch, Sunni Ittehad Council’s Ali Muhammad Khan, Zain Qureshi and Shehryar Afridi also reached the assembly, as well as PML-N's Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Hanif Abbasi. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Farooq Sattar are also in attendance. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, MPA Marriyum Aurangzeb and Senator Ishaq Dar are also in Parliament House to attend the assembly session. Speaking to the media, Ayub confirmed that the PTI-backed independent winners would be taking oaths as MNAs and also raise their voices against the alleged electoral rigging.

He also called the inaugural National Assembly session unconstitutional, saying the first members must be elected to the reserved seats in the House. Zartaj Gul stressed her loyalty towards the PTI, explaining that some political alliances had to be made keeping in view the current circumstances. She expressed gratitude to the Sunni Ittehad Council and MWM, expressing confidence in them. She remarked that she rise her voice in parliament for the public, political prisoners, and the party leadership, adding that she had been solely voted in the name of the PTI. Moreover, JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and PML-N Senator Nuzhat Sadiq have stepped down from their respective seats as senators. They tendered their resignations to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. Both are set to take oaths as MNAs today. PPP's Yousaf Raza Gilani also announced to vacate his Senate seat to take oath as an MNA. "The party will decide what role I will get in the new government," he told the media.

 'PTI letter anti-national'

Arriving at the Parliament House, PML-N President and prime minister in waiting, Shehbaz Sharif, called the letter written by the PTI to the International Monetary Fund another anti-national move. “After the cipher, this letter is another proof of the PTI’s anti-state interests,” he remarked. Shehbaz further insisted that there should be no doubt now that PTI Founder Imran Khan wants destruction of the country. He regretted and condemned the letter written to the IMF. “No Pakistani, despite political differences, will resort to anti-national activities,” he asserted. PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz remarked that democracy had emerged victorious, while those setting up obstacles in the way have been defeated. He further claimed that the economy is also being set ablaze just like the incidents of May 9, 2023. However, he said these attempts will also fail.

'Fifth generation rigging'

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, reaching the National Assembly, told the media that only those people who have been given a mandate should go to parliament. “Fifth generation rigging has taken place this time,” he alleged, stressing that the objective is to strengthen parliament. One should not enter parliament on a stolen mandate, he insisted. Speaking to the media upon his arrival, IPP President Aleem Khan said he would try to meet the people’s expectations. “The masses are facing difficulties, we will try to provide them relief. We will try to play our roles for the country’s development,” he remarked, adding that the PTI had just one provincial assembly and suggested the party work for improving the lives of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)