Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah elected as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly while securing 197 votes

ISLAMABAD, March 01 (SABAH): Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) has been elected as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

He secured 197 votes whilst the candidate of Sunni Ittehad Council Junaid Akbar bagged 92 votes. One vote was declared invalid.

Later the newly elected Deputy Speaker took the oath of his office. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq administered him the oath.

Newly elected Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, after taking oath, thanked the lawmakers, who supported him in the election. He also appreciated Sunni Ittehad Council candidate Junaid Akbar for participating in the democratic process.

Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah also thanked the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam, and Balochistan Awami Party for extending their support to him.

Taking the floor, MQM-Pakistan leader Dr. Farooq Sattar called for joining hands to take the country forward. He said we have to strengthen local governments to ensure development at the grass roots level.

PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry said no individual, party, or institution can single handedly steer the country out of the present crises. He urged lawmakers to forge unity and refrain from political polarization to strengthen democracy and the parliament as well as to uphold the supremacy of the constitution. The House has been adjourned to meet again on Sunday at 11:00 AM.