Chaudhry Latif Akbar elected as Speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly while securing 19 votes; takes oath of office
MUZAFFARABAD, June 03 (SABAH): Pakistan People’s Party leader Chaudhry Latif Akbar has been elected as Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly while securing 19 votes. Chaudhry Latif Akbar has also taken oath of his office. Acting Speaker AJK Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Riaz Ahmed Gujjar administered oath to him.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Chaudhry Maqbool boycotted the election of the speaker. Five PTI members of the assembly Azhar Sadiq, Chaudhry Arshad, Chaudhry Yasir and Ali Shan Sooni staged walk out from the house.
Meanwhile the AJK Legislative Assembly has approved the 15th Constitutional Amendment paving the way for increasing the number of ministers in the state from 16. In 13th Constitutional amendment the number of AJK ministers was fixed at 16. The Constitutional Amendment was moved by AJK Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathroe. 40 members voted in favor of the amendment. PTI forward block members also voted in favor of the amendment. Meanwhile the seven PTI members boycotted the voting process while opposing the amendment.