Bulletins 1200 16th August 2018

ISLAMABAD: Asad Qaiser of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been elected as 15th Speaker of the National Assembly with 176 votes after a stiff competition with Pakistan People Party’s Khursheed Shah who got 146 votes.

Announcing the name of new speaker, outgoing NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq said a total of 330 votes were polled, of them eight were rejected.

He said Mr. Qaiser received 176 votes, while Mr. Shah bagged 146 votes. Moments later, he administered oath to the newly-elected NA speaker Asad Qaiser.

“We will work in collaboration and take positive measures for the country with consultation from all parties,” said Qaiser.

“It is a great responsibility to serve as the speaker of National Assembly and I direct the staff of the parliament to work with utter honesty.”

He further urged all members of the National Assembly to participate fully during upcoming sessions of the lower house and serve Pakistan above their personal interests.

The new speaker of the House reached the opposition benches after taking oath and shook hands with opposition leaders including Bilawal Bhutto, and Khursheed Shah who were seated in a front row.

The opposition alliance, mainly lawmakers from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, chanted slogans and created ruckus as the new Speaker took oath. While the PPP legislators didn’t join their ally and remained unmoved.

Earlier, the newly-elected MNAs cast votes for their desired candidates through a secret ballot.