The Punjab Assembly session to elect the Chief Minister began on a sour note on Monday as members of the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) boycotted the proceedings right from the word go. No sooner had Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan explained the procedure for the election of the chief minister than the members of the SIC stood up and heckled him by raising slogans. The SIC members later walked out of the assembly to register their protest over what they said "stolen mandate". Earlier, PML-N nominee Maryam Nawaz, who enjoys support of majority in the House, reached the premises and was warmly greeted by the party leaders.  Maryam, who is the Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president, became a member of the provincial assembly by winning the Feb 8 general elections from constituency 159 Lahore-XV.

The speaker explained the procedure of voting when the assembly session started. Later, the assembly secretary briefed the house on the voting procedure. In the meanwhile, the opposition SIC members raised the objection that house was incomplete as women’s reserved seats and minority members have not been named yet. The SIC members boycotted the session. Speaker Khan formed a committee to negotiate with the protesters who briefly returned to the assembly but again moved out. The speaker then decided to proceed without the opposition.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)