The newly elected members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly took their oaths of office on Wednesday amidst disruption caused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers in the legislature.
The session faced a delay of over an hour due to the disturbance caused by PTI workers, making it challenging for elected lawmakers to enter the Assembly hall.
Speaker Mushtaq Ghani administered the oath to the newly elected provincial legislators.
Prior to the commencement of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session, PTI workers reportedly hurled a shoe and a lota (a small vessel) at PML-N female lawmaker Sobia Shahid. They also raised slogans against opposition female lawmakers.
Meanwhile, nomination papers for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the assembly could be submitted until 5:00 pm that day.
In a recent development, PTI has withdrawn the nomination of Aqibullah, the brother of former speaker Assad Qaisar, and instead nominated Babar Saleem Swati, an MPA from Mansehra, for the speaker's position. PTI's nominee for chief minister, Ali Ameen Gandapur, has supported Babar Saleem Swati's nomination. Aqibullah will be included as a member of the provincial cabinet.
The name of Surayya Bibi, a female member from Chitral, has been suggested for the post of deputy speaker.
The PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council holds the largest parliamentary block in the KP Assembly with 91 members, while JUI has 7, PML-N 5, PPP 4, ANP and PTI-P each have one member in the house, all of whom were set to take oath on that day.
Chief Minister-designate Ali Ameen Gandapur was also scheduled to take oath as an independent member of the house.
