ISLAMABAD: The election of Chief Minister Punjab will be held today between the joint Opposition’s candidate Hamza Shehbaz and the government’s ally Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.
The slot fell vacant after the resignation of Sardar Usman Buzdar following a deal between the ruling PTI and PML-Q few days back.
Both candidates need at least 186 votes in the House of 371 to win the poll for the slot of CM Punjab, The News reported.
With the full House comprising 371 MPAs, PML-N seems highly optimistic of regaining the crown of Punjab that it lost in 2018.
The Opposition claims that its joint strength comprising its own 160 MPAs (PML-N total strength is 165 out of which five MPAs are siding with the government), seven MPAs of PPP and rest from the rebel groups of PTI headed by Jehnagir Khan Tareen (JKT) and Abdul Aleem Khan and four out of five independents, stands above 188.
On the other hand, the ruling coalition candidate has also used his experience and influence in winning the support of JKT group MPAs and publicly, MPA Rafaqat Gilani, a part of JKT group has claimed that he was “siding with Imran and cannot leave him in crucial timeâ€.
Earlier, nomination papers of Parvez Elahi and Hamza Shehbaz were accepted. The polling will take place today and Deputy Speaker Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari will preside the PA session.