The National Assembly of the newly elected members who took oath for next five years the other day have elected Ayaz Sadiq from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the speaker, and Ghulam Mustafa Shah from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as his deputy.
This outcome was the result of a joint effort by the coalition of PML-N, PPP, Pakistan Muslim League-Qauid, Mutthida Qoumi Movement -Pakistan, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, PML-Zia, National Party, and Balochistan Awami Party.
During the voting process, Sadiq secured 199 votes, surpassing the 91 votes garnered by Amir Dogar, the nominee backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Sunni Ittehad Council.
Meanwhile, Ghulam Mustafa Shah received 197 votes, with Junaid Akbar from the Sunni Ittehad Council trailing behind at 92 out of a total of 291 votes cast.
Following the announcement of the results by the outgoing speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the incumbent Ayaz Sadiq took the oath and went to his rival, Amir Dogar for a handshake.
In his inaugural address, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq emphasized the need for collaboration between the government and the opposition, likening them to “two wheels of a car.” He urged both sides to work together for the betterment of the country.
However, the post-election atmosphere was not devoid of tension.
Amir Dogar, expressing dissatisfaction, claimed that the PTI’s mandate had been “stolen” and alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
He called for the return of the allegedly stolen mandate and reserved seats, stating the PTI’s readiness for reconciliation.
Amidst the political rhetoric, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chief of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, accused the establishment of manipulating the country’s constitution.
He called for resolutions to ensure that the establishment and security institutions play no role in Pakistani politics.
The PTI’s nominee for the deputy speaker, Junaid Akbar, echoed the sentiment of stolen votes and asserted that the party would not accept the assembly until justice was served.
Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N advocated for collaborative politics, stating that no single entity could solve the country’s problems.
Earlier in the day, the National Assembly proceedings were marked by disruptions from PTI-backed lawmakers chanting slogans, challenging the completeness of the house due to pending allotment of reserved seats.
