PESHAWAR: In a significant step towards gender inclusivity, negotiations are underway to appoint a female member to the esteemed post of Deputy Speaker in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has supported a candidate from PK-1 Chitral, Suraya Bibi, who has emerged as a prominent contender for the Speaker’s post, according to sources in its party.
A decision on Suraya Bibi’s potential promotion to the role of vice-president is expected to be finalized today or tomorrow, with party insiders indicating favorable prospects for her candidacy.
Also read: PTI did not hinder Shehbaz’s path to prime ministership: Bilawal
However, another winning candidate from PTI-backed PK-71, Sher Ali Afridi, also threw his hat in the ring amidst the negotiations, party sources revealed.
It is worth noting that the field of potential candidates for the Deputy Speaker underwent a shift following the rejection of Babar Saleem and Qasim Ali Shah, both elected MPAs who had initially expressed interest in the position.
Their decision paved the way for Suraya Bibi and Sher Ali Afridi to emerge as key contenders in the battle for the prestigious role.
The potential appointment of Suraya Bibi as Deputy Speaker would mark a historic moment, marking a step towards greater gender representation and empowerment in the political sphere of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
