MM News

LAHORE: A symbolic session of the Punjab Assembly session ‘elected’ PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz as the chief minister after the government sealed off the provincial assembly.

Members from the PML-N, PPP, and PTI’s Jahangir Khan Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan groups attended the session held at a local hotel. PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also present. As many as 199 MPAs who attended the symbolic session voted in favour of Hamza.

After the resolution to elect Hamza as the new chief minister was accepted, the session witnessed loud chants, including “chief minister, Hamza Shahbaz”. Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi had formed a panel consisting of MPAs from both sides. Shazia Abid, one of the panel member, presided over the symbolic session.

Taking to Twitter, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, who was in attendance in the session to express solidarity with the opposition leader, said, “Hamza Shehbaz Sharif with 199 votes elected as Chief Minister Punjab. Shukar Alhamdolillah.”

Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz Sharif Alhamdulliah elected by 199 votes . @MaryamNSharif broke into tears while congratulating Hamza Bhai @HamzaSS ♥️♥️♥️🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/zeKcSNy1pr

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) April 6, 2022

After the session, PML-N spokesperson Marriyam Aurangzeb tweeted that the party vice president “broke into tears while congratulating Hamza bhai” on his symbolic election as the chief executive of the province.

Maryam, who had come to express solidarity with Hamza, was in tears after the session. She said they were the tears of victory as she prayed for her deceased mother, Kulsoom Nawaz.

Speaking to reporters. Hamza said it was unfortunate that the assembly session could not take place today, as he slammed Speaker Pervaiz Elahi for barring MPAs and media personnel from entering the assembly’s building.

“These people are playing with the Constitution […] they cannot understand what is happening with them in Punjab and the Centre,” Hamza said. He slammed the PTI-led government for imprisoning Aleem, Tareen, Maryam, and other Opposition leaders for “revenge”.

It is noteworthy that the opposition is planning to submit a no-trust motion against Speaker Elahi while the PTI has already submitted a no-confidence motion against its own Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari. The chief minister’s office had fallen vacant after PTI’s Usman Buzdar resigned following PM Imran Khan’s decision to nominate PML-Q’s Pervaiz Elahi for the slot.