PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq secured victory as National Assembly speaker with 199 votes, announced by outgoing Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, with SIC’s Malik Amir Dogar securing 91 votes, marking a significant margin of 108 votes in Sadiq’s favor. Amid enthusiastic applause, Sadiq took the oath administered by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf during the second session of the 16th National Assembly, initiated with secret voting on Thursday.
Following a notification issued by the National Assembly, the election for speaker and deputy speaker occurred, with Sadiq and Ghulam Mustafa Shah representing the allied parties, while PTI-backed Amir Dogar contested for the speaker’s slot. As the assembly convened, PTI’s Omar Ayub’s interruption prompted Speaker Ashraf to steer proceedings back to the speaker’s election amid slogans and objections from PTI lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of procedural adherence for a successful election.
Addressing concerns raised by PTI members regarding the House’s completeness, Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf maintained decorum, urging a return to the session’s agenda while reaffirming the importance of procedural integrity. PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan underscored the necessity of a full house as per Article 51, emphasizing Speaker Ashraf’s role as the custodian of the House and urging adherence to procedural mandates for the House’s completeness.
