ISLAMABAD: Asad Qaiser of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been elected as 15th Speaker of the National Assembly with 176 votes after a stiff competition with Pakistan People Party’s Khursheed Shah who got 146 votes.<br /><br />Announcing the name of new speaker, outgoing NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq said a total of 330 votes were polled, of them eight were rejected.<br /><br />He said Mr. Qaiser received 176 votes, while Mr. Shah bagged 146 votes. Moments later, he administered oath to the newly-elected NA speaker Asad Qaiser.<br /><br />“We will work in collaboration and take positive measures for the country with consultation from all parties,” said Qaiser.<br /><br />“It is a great responsibility to serve as the speaker of National Assembly and I direct the staff of the parliament to work with utter honesty.”<br /><br />He further urged all members of the National Assembly to participate fully during upcoming sessions of the lower house and serve Pakistan above their personal interests.<br /><br />The new speaker of the House reached the opposition benches after taking oath and shook hands with opposition leaders including Bilawal Bhutto, and Khursheed Shah who were seated in a front row.<br /><br />The opposition alliance, mainly lawmakers from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, chanted slogans and created ruckus as the new Speaker took oath. While the PPP legislators didn’t join their ally and remained unmoved.<br /><br />Earlier, the newly-elected MNAs cast votes for their desired candidates through a secret ballot.
