Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is poised to make history as Pakistan's Punjab province's first female chief minister, following the scheduling of the inaugural session of the provincial legislature. The Punjab Assembly, out of the five assemblies that went to polls on February 8, is convening its opening session first.

"Punjab Governor Balighur Rahman has called the Punjab Assembly session for Friday, where newly elected members will take the oath, marking the commencement of the new government formation," stated a spokesperson for the Governor’s House.

Maryam Nawaz, aged 50, serves as the senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and is regarded as the political successor of her father, Nawaz Sharif. Despite Nawaz Sharif nominating his brother Shehbaz Sharif as the party's prime ministerial candidate, the PML-N has put forward Maryam as its chief ministerial candidate for Punjab, a province with a population exceeding 120 million.

In the Punjab Assembly elections, the PML-N secured 137 seats, while independents supported by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 113 seats. Around 20 independents, not affiliated with PTI, have already aligned with the PML-N. Those supported by PTI have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to secure reserved seats for women and minorities and to maintain their loyalty amid pressure from the military establishment.

However, there are doubts about the SIC's eligibility for reserved seats due to legal concerns, potentially leaving the PML-N with a simple majority in Punjab.

"The Election Commission of Pakistan is expected to announce the allocation of reserved seats in the Provincial Assembly soon. The SIC's chances seem slim due to legal issues, as its leader did not contest on his party's ticket, and the deadline for submitting candidates for reserved seats has passed," revealed an official source.

Outgoing Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan argued that since PTI-backed elected members have joined the SIC, the party should receive reserved seats. "A constitutional crisis could arise if the reserved seats of SIC/PTI are given to other parties," emphasized the speaker.

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz has received security typically provided to the chief minister and is actively engaging with the province's top bureaucracy, signaling her preparations for assuming office.

Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is poised to make history as Pakistan's Punjab province's first female chief minister, following the scheduling of the inaugural session of the provincial legislature. The Punjab Assembly, out of the five assemblies that went to polls on February 8, is convening its opening session first.

"Punjab Governor Balighur Rahman has called the Punjab Assembly session for Friday, where newly elected members will take the oath, marking the commencement of the new government formation," stated a spokesperson for the Governor’s House.

Maryam Nawaz, aged 50, serves as the senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and is regarded as the political successor of her father, Nawaz Sharif. Despite Nawaz Sharif nominating his brother Shehbaz Sharif as the party's prime ministerial candidate, the PML-N has put forward Maryam as its chief ministerial candidate for Punjab, a province with a population exceeding 120 million.

In the Punjab Assembly elections, the PML-N secured 137 seats, while independents supported by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 113 seats. Around 20 independents, not affiliated with PTI, have already aligned with the PML-N. Those supported by PTI have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to secure reserved seats for women and minorities and to maintain their loyalty amid pressure from the military establishment.

However, there are doubts about the SIC's eligibility for reserved seats due to legal concerns, potentially leaving the PML-N with a simple majority in Punjab.

"The Election Commission of Pakistan is expected to announce the allocation of reserved seats in the Provincial Assembly soon. The SIC's chances seem slim due to legal issues, as its leader did not contest on his party's ticket, and the deadline for submitting candidates for reserved seats has passed," revealed an official source.

Outgoing Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan argued that since PTI-backed elected members have joined the SIC, the party should receive reserved seats. "A constitutional crisis could arise if the reserved seats of SIC/PTI are given to other parties," emphasized the speaker.

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz has received security typically provided to the chief minister and is actively engaging with the province's top bureaucracy, signaling her preparations for assuming office.