The election process for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has concluded, with Babar Saleem elected as Speaker and Suraya Bibi as Deputy Speaker, both from the Sunni Union Council, following a secret ballot.
Babar Saleem Swati secured 89 votes for the Speakership, defeating opposition candidate Ehsanullah Mian Khel who garnered 17 votes. Mushtaq Ghani administered the oath to Swati. Subsequently, Suraya Bibi won the Deputy Speaker position with 87 votes, surpassing PTI-P candidate Arbab Waseem Khan who received 19 votes out of 106 valid votes cast.
The new Speaker, Babar Saleem Swati, took the oath as the 22nd Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly. The assembly session, presided over by Mushtaq Ghani, saw the election proceedings, albeit boycotted by JUI. PTI supporters protested during voting upon observing irregularities.
In the upcoming Chief Minister election, Pakistan Muslim League-N has nominated Dr. Hisham Inamullah, while Ali Amin Gandapur will run as an independent candidate. Dr. Ibadullah has been nominated as the opposition leader by PML-N.
The Provincial Assembly’s membership has increased to 118, with 87 members from the Sunni Ittehad Council and 6 independents. The opposition comprises 25 members. The assembly session was adjourned till the next day, with the Chief Minister election scheduled for 10 am the following day. Nomination papers can be submitted until 5 pm on the same day.
