ISLAMABAD: Asad Qaiser of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) was elected Speaker while Qasim Suri as Deputy Speaker after defeating candidates of Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Majlis Amal in the session of National Assembly here on Wednesday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf nominee Asad Qaiser emerged victorious as Speaker of the National Assembly bagging 176 votes, while the joint Opposition’s candidate Syed Khursheed Shah secured 146 votes.
Outgoing Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced the results declaring a total of 330 votes were polled, out of which 322 were declared valid, while eight votes were rejected.
The Speaker declared Asad Qaiser as Speaker National Assembly. The outgoing Speaker administered the oath to the newly elected Speaker.
Asad Qaiser, who joined the PTI soon after its formation in 1996, hails from Swabi district. He served as Speaker of the previous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He won the recent general election from NA-18, Swabi-I and PK-44 Swabi-II constituencies.
In his concluding remarks, the outgoing Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the 14th National Assembly had performed excellently and hoped that the Treasury and the Opposition benches would continue to work together in the best national interest.
He thanked the members of previous National Assembly for their cooperation and lauded the performance of standing committees. He also thanked the Opposition, especially Pakistan Peoples Party, for its cooperation in running affairs of the House.
He appreciated his party (PML-N) and the PPP for supporting his decision of not accepting the resignations of PTI members during the sit-in.
Ayaz Sadiq congratulated the new Speaker and assured his full support to him. He also asked the lawmakers to respect the chair of Speaker.
The new Speaker Asad Qaiser after taking over the charge, thanked the assembly members for electing him with majority vote.
He thanked PTI Chairman Imran Khan for nominating him for the post, besides the allied parties for reposing their trust in him. “I’m thankful to all members for electing me and empowering democracy. This win is not just of mine, but that of democracy, the Constitution and the Parliament,” he added. “We will run the House in consultation with all members, accommodating everyone’s opinions,” the newly-elected Speaker said.
He urged the former president Asif Zardari, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Raja Pervaiz Asharf, Muhammadmian Soomro, Syed Fakhar Imam and Dr Fehmida Mirza, to help in running affairs of the House smoothly.
Assuring full support to the media, he said the media persons would be provided every facility to help them perform their duties.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Khursheed Shah congratulated Asad Qaiser for winning the confidence of members. He also lauded the services of former Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and urged PTI to fulfill its promises made during the election campaign.
He assured that the Opposition would not create any hurdle in the people-friendly work of the new government. He urged the MNAs to actively participate in the business of the House.
Murtaza Javed Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) congratulated the new Speaker and assured him of full cooperation for the supremacy of the Parliament.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi appreciated Asif Ali Zardari for his political wisdom and Khursheed Shah for conceding defeat in the election for Speaker. He also thanked MQM-P, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and other members for supporting the PTI candidate for NA Speaker.
Maulana Abdul Waseh, Khalid Maqbool Siddique, Akhter Mengal, Ghous Bakhsh Mehar, Shahzain Bugti and Khalid Hussain Magsi also congratulated Asad Qaiser and assured him of their cooperation.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Qasim Khan Suri was elected Deputy Speaker of National Assembly as he secured 183 votes, while joint Opposition candidate Maulana Asad Mehmood secured 144 votes.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser announced the results stating that a total of 328 votes were polled, out of which 327 were declared valid, while one vote was rejected.
Speaker Asad Qaiser said, “I declare Qasim Khan Suri as the winner of the Deputy Speaker’s slot.” Asad Qaiser also administered the oath to the newly elected Deputy Speaker.
Suri has been associated with the PTI since 1996, the year in which the Party was formed.
In 2013, he had contested election for a National Assembly seat on a PTI ticket, but he was defeated by Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
In July 25, 2018 polls, Suri won the NA-265 (Quetta) seat. He attended Quetta Islamia School, and later in 1988, he joined Federal Government College. In 1990 he obtained Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Balochistan. In 1992, he got his Master’s degree in International Relations from the same university.