Summary PML-N's Ayaz Sadiq and Shafqat Mahmood of PTI are the two contenders for the NA Speaker's seat.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Counting of votes is underway for the election of new Speaker National Assembly at the Parliament House in Islamabad. The election was held through secret ballot.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accompanied by other members was the first to cast his vote.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N and Shafqat Mahmood of PTI are the two contenders for the seat of Speaker National Assembly. The assembly had initially received three nominations, but MNA Ghazi Ghulab Jamal withdrew his candidature.
All the main political parties, including PPP, MQM, JUI-F, Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as independent members from FATA have announced support for the PML-N candidate.
Talking to media outside the Parliament, PTI candidate Shafqat Mehmood stated that political parties are backing the ruling PML-N for their personal interests, however, his party will not compromise and play a real opposition’s role.
On the other hand, Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to back Ayaz Sadiq due to his previous performance.
Ayaz Sadiq, who was elected NA Speaker after 2013 election, was deseated by an election tribunal in August this year over massive irregularities in the election process in NA-122 constituency of Lahore. The decision was taken on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition challenging Sadiq’s victory.
Sadiq recently retained his NA seat by contesting against PTI’s Aleem Khan in the NA-122 by-polls.
