Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday secured a vote of confidence from the Punjab Assembly with a thumping majority amid boycott of the opposition members. The session, chaired by Speaker Rana Mohammed Iqbal, started at around 11:30 pm, one hour and a half behind the schedule.
Up to 266 Punjab Assembly members reposed their confidence in Shahbaz vowing to turn the Punjab into an ideal province. Former chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa presented motion for the vote of confidence in the House.
In the House of 354 members, the coalition partners in the Punjab enjoyed the support of 270 members with 159 of the PML-N, 104 of the PPP, three of the PML-F and two each of the MMA and independents. On Monday, three MPAs of the coalition partners could not cast their votes being away while the Speaker also did not use his vote.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Q forward bloc comprising 25-28 members abstained from voting while the PML-Q legislators continued boycott of the Punjab Assembly proceedings. The PML-Q MPA and party's Punjab Secretary General Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said that his party legislators in the Punjab Assembly would continue boycott of the assembly proceedings till notification of the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly is issued. It may be mentioned that Shahbaz Sharif became the Punjab chief minister on Sunday for the second term after 8 years, 7 months and 26 days.
In his address to the house after securing the trust vote, Shahbaz Sharif said that he would try his best to come up to the expectations of people of the province with the co-operation of the august house. He said that special attention will be focused on education of girls and women while IT University for Women will be set up definitely. In Islamic countries like Egypt, Jordan and Malaysia, women are playing vital role in the development of their countries. The Punjab government will pay special attention on women education so that they could play due role in the national development, he said.
Shahbaz also said that rights of minorities will be protected and they will be given equal opportunities. He said that today's Pakistan is not of that as was visualised by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, but he vowed to make the country in accordance with their ideals.
Shahbaz also said that non-development administrative expenditures would be cut to allocate more funds for development projects. He said that providing education and health services and employment opportunities would be the top priority of his government. He said the country needs good teachers while the government will form a committee to look into matter pertaining to teachers working on contract.
Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad felicitated Shahbaz Sharif for securing vote of confidence. He said the coalition government would work devotedly to ensure good governance and make the province as ideal one.
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