Gulf News

A milestone for nation’s democracy

THE15THNAT­IONALASSEM­BLYWILLBET­HIRD UNINTERRUP­TED TRANSITION OF CIVILIAN RULE

- BY ZUBAIR QURESHI Correspond­ent

After the July 25 general elections, the PTI-led coalition is all set to form its government at the centre, in Khyber Pakhtunkhw­a and Punjab.

Pakistan will mark a milestone moment in the country’s history today — the third unchecked and uninterrup­ted democratic transition of civilian rule — as newly-elected members of the 15th National Assembly (NA) take oath.

Speaker of the previous National Assembly and MNAelect on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from Lahore, Ayaz Sadiq, is going to administer oath to the newly elected MNAs.

In this regard, a delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) the single majority party in the Parliament called on him yesterday and discussed matters related to the maiden session of the Parliament.

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry and the party’s nominee for NA, speaker Asad Qaiser, were heading the delegation.

Later, while talking to the media, they vowed to establish a “working relationsh­ip” with other parties including PML-N. Outgoing NA Speaker Sadiq was also present on the occasion.

On matters of public interest, PTI looks forward towards the opposition’s constructi­ve, positive role, said Chaudhry.

The PTI team also invited Sadiq to oath-taking ceremony of PTI chairman Imran Khan for the office of prime minister on August 18.

In the wake of the successful and generally peaceful elections of July 25, 2018, PTI-led coalition is all set to form its government at the centre, in Khyber Pakhtunkhw­a (KP) and Punjab by proving its majority in the National and these two provinces’ assemblies. National Assembly Secretaria­t staff is working round the clock, even on Saturday and yesterday, to facilitate the members of the Assembly to help, guide and assist them.

A control room has been set which will remain 24/7 for collection of necessary informatio­n from the MNAs, like their photograph­s, issue them Folders/Bags, necessary guidebook, copy of Assembly’s rules, 1973 Constituti­on and preparatio­n of their gate passes and opening of their accounts.

Besides, to ensure foolproof security and to meet the overwhelmi­ng number of requests from different corners for attending the opening session of the National Assembly, only two passes for two galleries are being issued to each member of the National Assembly for their guests, and only on written requests.

According to a staff members, not only the elected members but also those named by the parties on the reserved seats — women and minority representa­tives — are going to take oath of their office today. Since 2008, elections are being held continuous­ly in Pakistan after every five years and birth of civilian government out of the dictatoria­l womb is unpreceden­ted in the country’s history.

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