PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq elected Speaker again

Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was re-elected Speaker of the National Assembly on Monday — three months after he was de-seated by an election tribunal as member of the house.

Mr Sadiq and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s Shafqat Mehmood were the two contenders for the Speaker’s post. The assembly had initially received three nominations, but Ghazi Ghulab Jamal withdrew his candidature.

All the main political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Mov-ement (MQM), the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal), the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) as well as independent members from the tribal areas had announced support for the PML-N candidate. Mr Sadiq secured 268 votes while Mr Mehmood received 31 votes only.

After announcement of the result, acting Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi administered oath to the newly-elected Speaker. Mr Abbasi congratulated Mr Sadiq over his re-election as the Speaker of the Lower House. He said it was the first time in the country’s history that a member has been elected twice as the Speaker in a tenure.

Addressing the House after taking oath, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq thanked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his party for reposing confidence in him. He also thanked members of the political parties who supported him in the re-election. Mr Sadiq said he is thankful to the PTI workers who participated in the process for the strengthening of the system. He said this is not his personal win, but that of the democracy.

Mr Sadiq said he has no complaints against anybody and he will take along the Opposition and treasury benches for the supremacy of law and upholding of democracy.