ISLAMABAD: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, a lawmaker for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was chosen as the National Assembly’s speaker on Friday following the completion of the voting process.
The PML-N lawmaker defeated independent lawmaker Malik Aamir Dogar, who was backed by lawmakers from the Sunni Ittehad (SIC) Council in the House and supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
One vote out of the 291 that were cast was ruled to be invalid.
With 199 votes, Sadiq was victorious in the speaker’s race thanks to the support of a majority of PML-N, PPP, and other MPs who backed his nomination in the lower house.
Dogar, Sadiq’s rival, managed to garner a mere 91 votes.
He has taken on the role of speaker for the second time.
Following the announcement of the results, Sadiq proceeded to meet Dogar and other parliamentarians from the SIC.
Speaking now, Sadiq will take an oath from Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the outgoing Speaker.
The new speaker will then assume immediate leadership of the house following the swearing of the oath. Following that, Ashraf will resign from his role.
This is Sadiq’s first order of business: elections for his deputy.
Syed Ghulam Mustafa of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Junaid Akbar of the SIC will compete for the position.