Sindh Assembly members take oath in Sindhi, Urdu, English amid Opp protest

KARACHI  – The inaugural session of the Sindh Assembly for the oath-taking of the newly-elected MPAs will be held at the Sindh Assembly building,

As per the ECP’s results, PPP won the most provincial assembly seats (84) followed by MQM-P (28), while independent candidates bagged 14, GDA 2, and JI two seats in the February 8 polls in Sindh. Additionally, the PPP got 26 reserved seats for women and minorities, with the MQM-P being allocated eight reserved seats as per their strength in the assembly.

On the other hand, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday announced the names for key positions in the Sindh Assembly.

Talking to media after PPP’s parliamentary party meeting, the former foreign minister said that Murad Ali Shah would be PPP’s candidate for Sindh chief minister slot. He said that Syed Awais Qadir Shah and Anthony Naveed would be PPP’s candidate for Sindh Assembly speaker and deputy speaker offices, respectively.

Meanwhile, 11 PTI-backed MPAs have decided not to participate in today’s session, and the opposition alliance, which includes GDA, PTI, and Jamaat-e-Islami, has announced a protest outside the assembly.

To curb the protest, the police has set up pickets and barriers on Sharea Faisal. Later, the police arrested 10 workers of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek for protesting outside the assembly, and two JUI supporters from Karsaz. It has also blocked Sharea Faisal with water tankers, containers and checkposts to contain the protest, due to which thousands of vehicles could be seen stranded on the road.

Traffic flow on the Hyderabad motorway has been suspended, while JUI supporters have started reaching Karsaz carrying party flags.

Murad Ali Shah nominated for Sindh chief minister’s slot

The security apparatus is on high alert for Saturday’s session, with strict arrangements in place. More than 1,000 personnel have been deployed, including officials with water canons and shell guns as well as women officers, around the Sindh Assembly premises.