Mirpur: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Tariq Farooq was elected Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday with a thumping majority, securing 32 votes against 14 polled by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Chaudhry Qasim Majid. The election was held on Tuesday during a session of the AJK Legislative Assembly, with Tariq Farooq declared successful after completion of polling and counting.
In a parallel contest for the office of Deputy Speaker, PML-N candidate Ahmed Raza Qadri also secured 32 votes, defeating his rival Aamir Ghaffar Lone, who received 14 votes. The results gave the PML-N a clear majority in the election of both presiding officers of the 53-member lower house of the AJK parliament.
Members from both treasury and opposition benches congratulated Tariq Farooq and Ahmed Raza Qadri on their election and expressed good wishes for their new responsibilities. The newly elected Speaker will preside over proceedings of the House, while the Deputy Speaker will assist in conducting parliamentary business.
The decisive victories of both PML-N candidates reflected the party’s numerical strength in the assembly, with each securing 32 votes compared with 14 votes obtained by their respective opponents.
