Polling for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker of National Assembly has started in what is a one-to-one contest between candidates pitched by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and a fragile opposition alliance.
Newly elected MNAs are voting for their preferred candidates through secret ballot in an election that is being overseen by outgoing speaker Ayaz Sadiq of the PML-N.
PTI’s Asad Qaiser is vying for the post of the NA speaker against PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah.
The election was expected to commence at 10am; however, the session faced a delay of nearly one hour due to the late arrival of MNAs.
Lawmakers belonging to various political parties, including prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan, are present in the Lower House of Parliament for the election.
Who is in the running?
Former speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Asad Qaiser (of PTI) is contesting for the post of NA speaker against PPP stalwart Syed Khursheed Shah. Both of them had submitted their nomination papers to the NA secretary on Tuesday.
