Political crisis deepens
\nOpposition claims 200 MPAs in attendance | Maryam Nawaz attends session | MPs from Tareen, Aleem groups attend session
\nIslamabad
\nThe Opposition\u2019s symbolic Punjab Assembly session elected PML-N leader Hamza Shabaz as the chief minister after the government sealed off the provincial assembly.
\nMembers from the PML-N, PPP, PTI\u2019s Jahangir Khan Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan groups attended the session, with PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also present.
\nPML-N leader and MPA Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has claimed that more than 200 MPAs are present at the hotel for the session.
\nAfter the resolution to elect Hamza as the new chief minister was accepted, the session witnessed loud chants, including \u201cchief minister, Hamza Shahbaz\u201d.
\nThe Tareen and Aleem groups have parted ways with the PTI and Prime Minister Imran Khan and decided to support the Opposition\u2019s candidate for the chief minister\u2019s office.
\nThe chief minister\u2019s office had fallen vacant after PTI\u2019s Usman Buzdar resigned following PM Imran Khan\u2019s decision to nominate PML-Q\u2019s Pervaiz Elahi as the new CM.
\nWeeping after witnessing the ceremony, Maryam told Geo News that her tears were the tears of victory, as she prayed for her deceased mother, Kulsoom Nawaz, who died at a hospital in London.
\nMeanwhile, Hamza, while talking to journalists, 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\u2019s building.
\n\u201cThese people are playing with the Constitution […] they cannot understand what is happening with them in Punjab and the Centre,\u201d Hamza told journalists, who are expected to have a tough competition with Elahi for the top slot.
\nThe PML-N leader slammed the PTI government for derailing the economy and worsening the crisis. \u201cThe stock market is bearish, while the dollar has reached a historic high.\u201d
\nMoving on, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly slammed the PTI-led government for imprisoning Aleem, Tareen, Maryam, and other Opposition leaders for \u201crevenge\u201d.
\n\u2018Revenge\u2019
\nTalking to journalists alongside Hamza after the session\u2019s conclusion, Maryam said the Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly followed PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif\u2019s ideology and would \u201cserve\u201d the people of the province.
\n\u201cToday, Nawaz Sharif took the revenge [from the PTI government] that stole the mandate of the people of Punjab. Blood was shed to restrict PML-N from forming a government in Punjab,\u201d Maryam told journalists.
\nThe PML-N leader said Punjab\u2019s people were tuned into \u201cbeggers\u201d just for two kilogrammes of sugar. \u201cThey (PTI government) were involved in the theft of sugar, power, gas, and development.\u201d
\nMaryam said she was \u201cashamed\u201d after the Punjab Assembly was locked and journalists and members of the assembly were barred from entering the building.
\n\u201cCome and count, the representative of 200 MPAs \u2014 Hamza Shahbaz \u2014 is present here. We have seen dictators [violate the Constitution], but Imran Khan has proved that he is the first civil dictator of Pakistan,\u201d she said on the government sealing off the Punjab Assembly.
\nUsman Buzdar-Farah Khan \u2018nexus\u2019
\nMoreover, Maryam said despite Usman Buzdar being the chief minister, it was Farah Khan \u2014 a close friend of PM Imran Khan\u2019s wife, Bushra Bibi \u2014 who controlled him.
\n\u201cHow did Farah Khan manage postings and transfers of government officials in Punjab? Whom did Farah Khan send the commissions to after the postings and transfers?\u201d she questioned.
\nThe PML-N leader went on to say that when the time comes, everything will be revealed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Political crisis deepens Opposition claims 200 MPAs in attendance | Maryam Nawaz attends session | MPs from Tareen, Aleem groups attend session Islamabad The Opposition\u2019s symbolic Punjab Assembly session elected PML-N leader Hamza Shabaz as the chief minister after the government sealed off the provincial assembly. Members from the PML-N, PPP, PTI\u2019s Jahangir Khan Tareen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1635,1211,373],"class_list":{"0":"post-253347","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-hamza-shehbaz","9":"tag-opposition","10":"tag-punjab-assembly"},"yoast_head":"\n