Newly-elected Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took the oath of office Monday shortly after being elected as the first woman chief executive of the province.
Over 1,000 guests including diplomats, celebrities, political leaders, journalists, and Sharif family members Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif among others attended the swearing-in ceremony that took place at Punjab Governor House.
Governor Baligh Ur Rehman administered the oath to the newly-elected chief minister soon after her election as the provincial chief executive amid a boycott by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members.
Maryam, who has become the first-ever female chief minister in Pakistan’s history, won the elections after obtaining 220 votes in the provincial assembly.
Her opponent, SIC candidate Rana Aftab Ahmad, did not get any votes as the party boycotted the elections after they were stopped from speaking.
“The votes have been counted according to which Maryam has obtained 220 votes and SIC candidate Rana Aftab Aftab secured zero votes,” said Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan while presiding the session.
After announcing the result, the speaker invited CM-elect Maryam Nawaz to come to the seat of the leader of the House.
She started her speech by congratulating the newly-elected speaker and deputy speaker.
“I wanted the opposition to be present in this democratic process,” said Maryam while extending an olive branch to the opposition in her maiden speech. She also thanked her party lawmakers, allied parties Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP) members for voting in her favour.
“This is the honour of every mother, sister and daughter that a woman has been elected as the CM and I pray that the process continues and more women take my place as the leader of the house,” she expressed.
“I neither have a feeling of revenge or vengeance and my journey includes my arrest, my father’s arrest, my mother’s passing away,” she said.
The Punjab CM-elect further thanked the opposition for making her “pass through” all the “ordeal” which helped her reach in the province’s top office.
“On this occasion, I thank my late mother too as she knowingly and unknowingly trained me for this day. She is still present with me, her prayers and best wishes. She taught me how to face trials,” said Maryam in her winning speech.
“I am thankful that you have made me occupy the seat from where a visionary leader like Nawaz started his career [and] who later made Pakistan invincible with nuclear technology,” said the newly-elected chief minister.
She said that the senior PML-N leaders including Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif were her mentors. “I consider this office as a big responsibility on my shoulders,” she added.
She also hoped to rise above the political polarisation to serve Punjab, assuring that she will resolve the issues of her opponents’ constituencies regardless of their party affiliation.
