ISLAMABAD: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has been once again appointed Speaker of the National Assembly on Monday.
PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq and Shafqat Mahmood of PTI were the two contenders for the seat of Speaker National Assembly. The assembly had initially received three nominations, but MNA Ghazi Ghulab Jamal withdrew his candidature.
All the main political parties, including PPP, MQM, JUI-F, Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as independent members from FATA had announced support for the PML-N candidate.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq secured 268 votes while Shafqat Mehmood received 31 votes only.
After announcement of the result, Acting Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbassi administed oath to the newly elected Speaker.
Abbasi congratulated Ayaz Sadiq over his re-election as the speaker of lower house. He said it is historic 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 election of the speakership.
Sardar Ayaz 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. He 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 democratic traditions.
Ayaz Sadiq assured he will play an active role in cooperation with all the political parties to make the parliament more vibrant. He said efforts will be made to further strengthen the role of standing committees.
The Speaker said Kashmir cause has been on the agenda of the house and it will be taken forward to highlight the issue at the international level.
Earlier today, talking to media outside the Parliament, PTI candidate Shafqat Mehmood stated that political parties are backing the ruling PML-N for their personal interests, however, his party will not compromise and play a real opposition’s role.
On the other hand, Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is backing Ayaz Sadiq due to his previous performance.
Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-(F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman also said Sardar Ayaz has demonstrated responsibility as speaker of National Assembly in the past.
Ayaz Sadiq, who was elected NA Speaker after 2013 election, was de-seated by an election tribunal in August this year over massive irregularities in the election process in NA-122 constituency of Lahore. The decision was taken on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition challenging Sadiq’s victory.
Sadiq recently retained his NA seat after defeating PTI’s Aleem Khan in the NA-122 by-polls.
