News Desk |
Asad Qaiser of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was elected as Speaker of the National Assembly on Wednesday, according to results announced by outgoing speaker PML-N speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Mr. Qaiser had contested the election for the speaker against Khursheed Shah, the joint candidate of the opposition. The election was carried out through secret balloting.
Ayaz Sadiq, the outgoing speaker announced that Asad Qaiser had swept 176 votes out of total 330. Opposition’s nominee Khursheed Shah got 146 votes. Eight votes were rejected. After the announcement, the joint opposition members protested loudly against the alleged rigging in the polls. Later, the outgoing speaker administered the oath to the newly elected speaker.
Khurshid Shah of PPP, former leader of the opposition paid tribute to the outgoing speaker Ayaz Sadiq for having conducted the house “gracefully”. Shah Mehmood Qureshi of PTI
Speaking to the media prior to the polling, the now-Speaker said that his party wanted to establish a “working relationship” with other parties and that the PTI wished to cooperate with other parties in order to counter challenges including the economic being faced by the country.
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Mr. Asad Qaiser served as the provincial party president of the KPK during the 2013-2018 tenure. Former Chief Minister of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and now Member National Assembly Pervaiz Khattak of PTI said “Qaiser is familiar with all parliamentary practices and traditions and has a working relationship with
The outgoing speaker Ayaz Sadiq addressed the house and said that there had been several unpleasant moments during his speakership; there had been name-calling and shaming but he did not wish to identify people. The former speaker said that he wanted to maintain a mutually respectful relationship with all parties as during his speakership.
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Khurshid Shah of PPP, former leader of the opposition paid tribute to the outgoing speaker Ayaz Sadiq for having conducted the house “gracefully”. Shah Mehmood Qureshi of PTI said that the ruling party respects and invites constructive criticism. Qureshi also said that the government will give weight to the criticism of the opposition and hopes that the house will maintain decorum and stability.