Approximately 115 newly elected members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly took their oaths amidst disturbances on Wednesday. The KP Governor, Ghulam Ali, called this assembly session on the advice of caretaker Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, making it the third provincial assembly to conduct oaths post the February 8 general elections. The assembly had been inactive for over 13 months following its dissolution in January 2023.
Scheduled for 11 am, the session started after a delay due to disturbances caused by PTI workers and affiliated lawmakers, now part of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Speaker Mushtaq Ghani led the session past 1 pm, starting with a tribute to national martyrs. He then swore in the MPAs, including 87 from SIC.
Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI’s choice for chief minister, was notable among those sworn in, carrying a PTI flag and a photo of Imran Khan. Following the ceremony, Ghani announced upcoming elections for speaker and deputy speaker positions.
The session saw PTI supporters chant slogans as MPs signed in. PTI’s Omer Ayub Khan disclosed Imran Khan’s nomination of Babar Salim Swati for assembly speaker. PTI supporters also demonstrated inside the assembly, chanting slogans and displaying pro-Imran symbols.
Senator Faisal Javed of PTI praised voters for their support and promised the restoration of the health card program.
