LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Sardar Sibtain Khan has been elected the Punjab Assembly speaker after the election for the coveted post securing ten votes more than his opponent Saiful Malook Khokhar of the PML-N.
The coveted post fell vacant following the election of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the chief minister of the province.
Panel of Chairman Wasim Badozai, who presided over the provincial assembly session, announced that Khan has defeated PML-N’s Saiful Malook Khokhar by bagging 185 votes. Khokhar, who was the joint candidate of PML-N and PPP, secured 175 votes.
“Congratulations Janaab-e-Speaker Sibtain Khan,” PTI leader Raja Basharat said, adding, “Now they will proceed with the no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker.
Earlier, the polling process was stopped after PML-N lawmakers raised objections on the counterfoil of the ballots and threw them towards the opposition benches.
The four ballot papers have also reportedly gone missing with the Panel of Chairman Wasim Badozai summoned security personnel inside the house.
The PML-N members have also surrounded the Punjab Assembly secretary and other staff conducting the election.
On Thursday, the treasury lawmakers in the provincial assembly unanimously passed a resolution proposing a contest for the vacant seat of the Punjab Assembly speaker as well as presented a no-trust motion against Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari today.
The PTI has claimed that it has 186 votes in favour of its nominee Sibtain Khan, whereas the PML-N was hopeful for victory despite having 178 confirmed votes for its candidate Saiful Malook Khokhar.
After the Supreme Court struck down Deputy Speaker Mazari’s contentious ruling on Punjab chief minister’s election, the PTI decided to immediately bring a no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker and remove him.
