PML-N wins top AJK Assembly posts with clear majority

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured both key parliamentary positions in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative

MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured both key parliamentary positions in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, with Chaudhry Tariq Farooq elected speaker and Ahmed Raza Qadri chosen as deputy speaker.

Both PML-N nominees secured 32 votes each in the 53-member assembly during separate elections held on Tuesday.

For the speaker’s position, PML-N Secretary General Chaudhry Tariq Farooq faced Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) nominee Qasim Majeed. A total of 46 lawmakers participated in the voting.

Farooq received 32 votes, while Majeed secured 13. One vote was declared invalid.

Following the result, outgoing Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar administered the oath to Farooq. He subsequently handed over charge of the assembly to the newly elected speaker.

Farooq then chaired the election for the deputy speaker’s office. The PML-N nominated Ahmed Raza Qadri, while the PPP fielded Amir Abdul Ghaffar Lone.

The voting pattern remained unchanged, with 46 lawmakers casting ballots. Qadri secured 32 votes against Lone’s 13, while one vote was declared invalid.

Farooq administered the oath of office to the newly elected deputy speaker after the announcement of the result.

The successful elections give the PML-N control of the two most important parliamentary offices in the AJK Assembly.

The party emerged as the largest political force in the recent AJK elections. Polling was held in three phases between July 27 and August 10.

The PML-N won 25 of the 38 directly contested seats, while the PPP secured 12. The lone elected member of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu later joined the PML-N, further strengthening its position in the assembly.

Members of the newly formed assembly congratulated Farooq and Qadri after they took charge of their respective offices. They expressed hope that the new leadership would ensure effective parliamentary proceedings and strengthen the functioning of the legislative institution.