Member of National Assembly will elect Prime Minister of Pakistan today (Sunday) as coalition parties’ candidate Shehbaz Sharif and PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate Omar Ayub has submitted nomination papers.
Newly-elected National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq approved the nomination papers of both leaders for the prime minister election after scrutiny and will preside over today’s session.
On Saturday, PML-N’s Ishaq Dar, Hanif Abbasi, and PPP’s Khursheed Shah submitted the nomination papers of Shehbaz Sharif. Other MNAs also reached the NA secretary’s office include Attaullah Tarar, Anusha Rehman, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Romina Khursheed Alam, Kheeal Das Kohistani, Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Yousuf, Khawaja Asif, Awais Laghari, Awn Chaudry and many other.
READ MORE: Prime Minister’s election to be held on Sunday, schedule issued
While MNAs Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Riaz Khan Fatyana, Umair Khan Niazi, and seconded by MNAs Mohammad Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, Ali Khan Jadoon, Mujahid Ali, and Malik Mohammad Amir Dogar submitted documents on behalf of Omar Ayub.
Later yesterday, Omar Ayub in an application to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq raised objections over the acceptance of Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination papers.
“Shehbaz was ‘gifted’ the seat as a result of manipulation in Form 47. As per Form 45, Shehbaz had lost,” the PTI-backed candidate for the PM’s slot said in his plea. He said that Shehbaz was ineligible to become the leader of the house.
MQM-P, IPP, and PPP have all backed the PML-N’s candidate, ensuring that he will be smoothly elected for the prime minister’s slot once again. On the other hand, Omar Ayub lacks in numbers.
On Friday, MNAs elected Speaker of the House of PML-N and Deputy Speaker of PPP with ease against SIC and PTI-backed candidates.
Prime Minister swearing-in ceremony
The oath-taking ceremony will be held on March 4 at 3 pm in the President’s House while President Dr Arif Alvi will administer the oath to the new prime minister.
Following the prime minister’s election, the newly-elected lawmakers of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies will also elect a President of Pakistan on March 9, marking an end to the tenure of President Arif Alvi.
