The PML-N backed Shah Ghulam Qadir elected as speaker AJK Legislative Assembly with majority of votes on Saturday. He secured thirty-nine votes while his opponents Malik Muhammad Nawaz of Muslim Conference got three votes and Aamir Abdul Ghaffar Lone of Pakistan Peoples' Party got four votes. The PML-N supported candidate Sardar Farooq Tahir was also elected as deputy speaker of the House.
Later, the newly elected Speaker of AJK Legislative Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir expressed his profound gratitude to the members of AJK Legislative Assembly for electing him as Speaker of the Assembly. After taking oath as Speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly in the special session today in Muzaffarabad he said that he will run the house with the co-operation and assistance of all the assembly members.
Shah Ghulam Qadir said that all rules and regulations would be followed for the better functioning of the government. He said that all members of the assembly are equally respectable for him. The outgoing Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq Khan administered oath to him. Earlier, the newly elected members of AJK Legislative Assembly took oath. The outgoing speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq took oath from the new MLAs.
Meanwhile, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Speaker and Murtaza Javed Abbasi Deputy Speaker, National Assembly congratulated Shah Ghulam Qadir and Sardar Farooq Tahir, on their election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. In their separate congratulatory message to Shah Ghulam Qadir and Sardar Farooq Tahir, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker said that their election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was an evidence of trust and confidence of leadership, members of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly reposed in them. They expressed the hope that under their sagacious leadership Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly will play more vital role to further strengthen the democratic norms and institutions in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker prayed for their success.