ISLAMABAD: The inaugural session of Pakistan’s new National Assembly was held Monday at the Parliament House in Islamabad, marking the county’s third consecutive democratic transition.
The simple but graceful ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an.
The outgoing Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, administered the oath to the newly elected members in a brief ceremony.
He also read out the procedure for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, to be held on Wednesday. The nomination papers for these slots can be submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat by 12 noon tomorrow.
All those who took the oath individually signed the roll in alphabetical order to be the members of the house. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari was the first one to sign the roll, reported Radio Pakistan.
Prominent among the oath takers were Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan; President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Mian Shahbaz Sharif; PPP Co-Chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari; and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The new National Assembly will also elect the leader of the House, who will be sworn in on Aug. 18.
The PTI claims to enjoy the backing of 180 lawmakers in the 342-seat assembly. PTI chief Imran Khan needs 172 votes to become the new prime minister.
He will be challenged by PML-N president Sharif, who is fielded as the joint opposition’s candidate for the slot.
The country’s new National Assembly came into being a day ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day on Aug. 14, celebrations for which are already in full swing with a firework show later on Monday to mark the eve of the big day.
Pakistan’s 15th National Assembly holds inaugural session
Pakistan’s 15th National Assembly holds inaugural session
- Pakistan witnessed its third consecutive democratic transition on Monday in an orderly fashion
- The elections for speaker and deputy speaker of the House will be held on Wednesday
Pakistan opposition rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand release of Imran Khan
- PTI-led gathering calls the former PM a national hero and demands the release of all political prisoners
- Government says the opposition failed to draw a large crowd and accuses PTI of damaging its own politics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a rally in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, describing him as a national hero who continues to command public support.
The gathering came days after a rare and strongly worded briefing by the military’s media chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who dismissed Khan as “narcissistic” and “mentally ill” on Friday while responding to the former premier’s allegations that Pakistan’s chief of defense forces was responsible for undermining the constitution and rule of law.
He said that Khan was promoting an anti-state narrative which had become a national security threat.
The participants of the rally called for “civilian supremacy” and said elected representatives should be treated with respect.
“We, the people of Pakistan, regard Imran Khan as a national hero and the country’s genuinely elected prime minister, chosen by the public in the February 8, 2024 vote,” said a resolution presented at the rally in Peshawar. “We categorically reject and strongly condemn the notion that he or his colleagues pose any kind of threat to national security.”
“We demand immediate justice for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, and call for their prompt release,” it added, referring to Khan’s wife who is also in prison. “No restrictions should be placed on Imran Khan’s meetings with his family, lawyers or political associates.”
Addressing the gathering, Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, denied his administration was not serious about security issues amid increased militant activity. However, he maintained the people of his province had endured the worst of Pakistan’s conflict with militancy and urged a rethinking of long-running security policies.
The resolution asked the federal government to restore bilateral trade and diplomatic channels with Afghanistan, saying improved cross-border ties were essential for the economic stability of the region.
The trade between the two neighbors has suffered as Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering and facilitating armed groups that it says launch cross-border attacks to target its civilians and security forces. Afghan officials deny the claim.
The two countries have also had deadly border clashes in recent months that have killed dozens of people on both sides.
Some participants of the rally emphasized the restoration of democratic freedoms, judicial independence and space for political reconciliation, calling them necessary to stabilize the country after years of political confrontation.
Reacting to the opposition rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said the PTI and its allies could not gather enough people.
“In trying to build an anti-army narrative, they have ruined their own politics,” he said, adding that the rally’s reaction to the military’s media chief’s statement reflected “how deeply it had stung.”
“There was neither any argument nor any real response,” he added, referring to what was said by the participants of the rally.
