PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session, slated to start at 9 AM today, experienced a delay of over two hours, with proceedings still pending as of midday. Despite the presence of newly elected members on reserved seats, the oath-taking ceremony had yet to begin.
Twenty-five members elected on special (reserved) seats were expected to be sworn in during the session. However, uncertainty remained about whether the oath would be administered today.
Speaking to the media outside the Assembly, Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah Khan voiced optimism that the oath-taking would still take place. “These are political representatives — the session won’t be adjourned without meeting the quorum and completing the oath,” he said.
Dr. Ibadullah criticized the government for the prolonged delay, stating, “The government should not ridicule the mothers and sisters who have travelled from across the province to fulfill their constitutional roles.”
He further shared that the Opposition had held discussions with the government on several key points regarding the upcoming Senate elections. “If the government chooses not to withdraw its candidates, we are ready to contest,” he said.
Commenting on the broader political standoff, Dr. Ibadullah added, “Anything is possible with PTI,” and clarified, “It’s not our responsibility to persuade their members to vote in the Senate elections.”
If the assembly session fails to commence today, he said the oath-taking may be rescheduled for later this evening or tomorrow morning.
