LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly is gearing up for a showdown today (Monday) between PML-N candidate Maryam Nawaz and PTI candidate Rana Aftab for the post of provincial Chief Minister (CM).

The election is likely to see Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, make history as the first woman chief minister of Punjab since the PML-N and its allies have a clear majority in the House.

The nomination papers of Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Rana Aftab Khan for the post of Chief Minister of Punjab have been accepted.

The PTI – at eleven o’clock – named Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan as its new candidate for the post following an attempt by the provincial police to arrest its earlier candidate, Mian Aslam Iqbal.

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PTI leader Hammad Azhar noted that party founder Imran Khan had earlier nominated Mian Aslam Iqbal for the post, but heavy contingents of police force were deployed outside the Punjab Assembly to arrest him.

Referring to the situation, Hammad Azhar said that the party leadership decided to nominate Rana Aftab after consulting the former.

Punjab Chief Minister Election will be held today at 11:00 am.

Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Chief Minister of Punjab will be held at the Governor’s House on Monday at 2 pm.

Invitations in this regard were sent to members of the regional assembly. MPAs were instructed not to bring guests with them.