MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured both top parliamentary posts in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Chaudhry Tariq Farooq has been elected Speaker, while Ahmed Raza Qadri has won the election for Deputy Speaker.
Chaudhry Tariq Farooq Elected Speaker
Polling for the Speaker’s position was completed in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Chaudhry Tariq Farooq secured 32 votes.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Qasim Majid received 13 votes.
Following the announcement of the results, Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar administered the oath of office to the newly elected Speaker, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq.
Tariq Farooq then took charge of the assembly proceedings. He chaired the session for the election of the Deputy Speaker.
Ahmed Raza Qadri Wins Deputy Speaker Election
The assembly then held voting for the Deputy Speaker’s position.
PML-N candidate Ahmed Raza Qadri secured 32 votes and was elected Deputy Speaker.
PPP candidate Amir Ghaffar Lone received 13 votes, while one vote was declared invalid.
After the result, Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq administered the oath of office to Ahmed Raza Qadri.
PML-N Secures Both Key Assembly Posts
With Ahmed Raza Qadri’s victory, PML-N has secured both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The development marks an important step in the formation of the new assembly after the general elections.
The newly elected members had already taken their oaths following the completion of elections for reserved seats.
Tariq Farooq to Serve as Acting President
Following his election as Speaker, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq will also assume the responsibilities of Acting President of Azad Kashmir.
The new Speaker will continue to lead the legislative assembly as it begins its parliamentary proceedings under the newly formed setup.
