Maryam Nawaz elected as Punjab's first female Chief Minister

LAHORE, Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was elected on Monday as the Chief Minister of Punjab, making her the first woman to hold the position in the history of Pakistan.

Nawaz, the nominated candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), received 220 votes in the 372-member provincial assembly, while her only rival candidate, Rana Aftab from the Sunni Ittehad Council, secured no votes.

The election was boycotted by the Sunni Ittehad Council, who walked out of the assembly in protest before the vote. PML-N holds a comfortable majority in the assembly, requiring only 186 votes to secure the win.

Nawaz's swearing-in ceremony was held at the Governor's House, with her father and party president Shahbaz Sharif in attendance.

This historic win marks a significant moment for Pakistani politics, as Nawaz becomes the first woman to lead the most populous province in the country. Her premiership is expected to be closely watched, both domestically and internationally.