Pakistan’s Punjab will get its new CM today, all eyes are on Maryam Nawaz Sharif – Dainik Savera Times

Lahore: Sindh and Punjab are set to decide on their chief ministers on Monday, a significant development in the anticipated ruling coalition between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the federal level. The political scenario is brimming with expectations as PTI-backed candidates promise possible ‘surprises’ in the 371-member Punjab Assembly.

PML-N’s senior vice president in Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif is the party’s candidate for the chief ministerial post and facing her is Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)’s Rana Aftab Ahmed. Meanwhile, PPP’s Murad Ali Shah will take on Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) candidate Ali Khurshidi in Sindh amid boycott by PTI and JI, according to a newspaper. PML-N senior vice president in Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has emerged as the party’s contender for the coveted chief ministerial post. His rival is Rana Aftab Ahmed of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Meanwhile, in Sindh, PPP’s Murad Ali Shah is set to face Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) candidate Ali Khurshidi.

The political chessboard in Punjab took an unexpected turn as the SIC had initially nominated Mian Aslam Iqbal for the post of Chief Minister but replaced him with Rana Aftab from Faisalabad. Iqbal, a former PPP member, had not taken oath as a member of the provincial assembly (MPA) due to fear of arrest by the Punjab Police. Rana Aftab expressed optimism and hinted at possible surprises in the upcoming elections, but expressed regret over the ban on SIC MPAs from entering the Punjab Assembly complex.

Considering the party’s candidate for the speaker’s office secured 224 votes against SIC’s 98 in the last election, Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s victory seems imminent. Confident of her victory, Maryam is already busy deliberating on her cabinet and development agenda. The bureaucracy, including the Chief Secretary and the Inspector General of Police, have started briefing them on various matters. Notably, she will become the 30th Chief Minister of Punjab and the first woman to lead the province.

In Sindh, PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami have announced boycott of the Chief Minister’s election proceedings. The PPP has nominated Murad Ali Shah, and the MQM-P has fielded Ali Khurshidi. PTI alleges that Shah sought their support, but they insisted on their decision to boycott, aiming to challenge it as theft of the people’s mandate. JI, an MPA in the Sindh Assembly, is with PTI in boycotting the process.

Political dynamics in Sindh and Punjab hold historical significance, with a lineage of leaders ruling Punjab since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947. The potential leadership of Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab adds a different chapter to this legacy. The Sindh Assembly is gearing up for the chief ministerial election, with PPP’s Murad Ali Shah leading the race against MQM-P’s Ali Khurshidi. PTI and JI’s decision to boycott reflects their stand against a compromised electoral process. As the day progresses, the political scenario in Sindh and Punjab is set for a transformational change, with the PPP and PML-N competing for key leadership positions, according to a report.