Hamza Shahbaz speech in Punjab Assembly after facing defeat for CM Punjab election
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LAHORE - Hamza Shehbaz Sharif while addressing the Punjab Assembly today has said how people sacrificed for the country at the time of Partition. “People were killed in trains and deprived of their honour,” he said during his address. “Yet after 71 years, all the parties are crying foul about rigging in the elections. The people of Pakistan want answers.”
He said ballot papers were found lying strewn on the roads and under classroom desks.
“You would remember how terrorism affected this country,” he said. “Recently, ANP’s Haroon Bilour *sahib* was martyred. Pakistan has rendered numerous such sacrifices. Today, we are facing multiple challenges. Nawaz Sharif wanted to end load-shedding. Today, our enemy country says it will kill Pakistan of thirst. Kalabagh Dam became victim of politics. We could have had a bigger reservoir. Even today, if a consensus can be reached, the Kalabagh Dam should be built. Bhasha Dam was a dream. This assembly should be proud that we have acquired the land for the dam after spending Rs100 million. Pakistan will progress.”
There have been many *vuzra-e-aala* [chief ministers] but there will never be another *khadim-e-aala* [chief servant], he said of his father.
Nawaz Sharif was offered in 2013 that he could form the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he said. “But he did not take the offer as the PTI had formed the majority,” he said.
We will not rest until rigging is taken care of, said Hamza Shehbaz. “Despite all hurdles, the PML-N emerged as the largest party in Punjab,” he said.
The session began at 12pm. Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is presiding over the session.
Instead of secret balloting, the 371 members of the assembly will divide into two groups. The group that forms a simple majority with 186 or more MPAs will be able to install its chief minister. A re-election will be held if a simple majority cannot be achieved.
The PML-N’s Hamza was elected on the PP-146 seat with 71,389 votes. He is the son of PML-N President and former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif. The PML-N has emerged successful on 129 seats of the Punjab Assembly. With the backing of one independent candidate, 30 women seats and four minority seats, they enjoy the support of 164 MPAs.
The PTI’s candidate, Buzdar, was elected on Dera Ghazi Khan’s PP-286 seat with 27,027 votes. He is the son of tribal chieftain Sardar Fatah Muhammad Khan Buzdar. The PTI has secured victory on 119 seats of the Punjab Assembly. As many as 29 independent MPAs joined the PTI. With the backing of 33 women seats and four minority seats, the PTI has the support of 179 MPAs.
The PML-Q has seven general seats and two women seats. They also enjoy the backing of an independent candidate.
The PPP has six general seats and one women’s seat. The party has decided not to vote in the election for the chief minister.
There is one independent MPA who has joined the Pakistan Raah-e-Haq Party. Four other independent candidates have not announced their support for anyone.
