PPP nominated Awais Qadir Shah has been elected as Sindh Assembly’s new speaker securing 111 votes through a polling held under secret balloting, while opposite candidate from MQM Sofia Saeed Shah got 36 votes.

Outgoing speaker of the Sindh Assembly Agha Siraaj Durani administered oath in Sindhi language from newly elected speaker Awais Qadir Shah.

Awais Qadir Shah in his inaugural speech as Speaker of the Sindh Assembly said: "I assuming the post of the Speaker of Sindh Assembly itself a moment of pride for my family, friends and people from my constituency and people of Sukkur as well."

In his speech in Sindhi, Urdu and ENglish language newly elected speaker vowed to take a new start by upholding the rule book of the Sindh Assembly.

He assureda all the newly elected members to give them proper time as per the Assembly's rules book to have a 'smooth' session in the next five years.

Anthony Naveed becomes deputy speaker

The polling for the deputy speaker was completed. Anthony Naveed has been elected as Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly securing 111 votes while opponent candidate MQM Rashid Khan got 36 votes.

Sindh Assembly session to elect the new speaker and the deputy speaker was kicked off and polling for the new speaker election has been underay after outgoing Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraaj Durani on Sunday announced the panel of chairman.

Sindh Assembly session started under the chairmanship of Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

MQM's Abdul Basit casted the first vote. Zia Linjar appointed as the polling agent of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Abdul Luseem has been appointed as the polling agent of MQM.

The process of election of Speaker in Sindh Assembly has started. The members will first cast their vote for the election of the Speaker.

“I congratulate the nominated Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah,” Speaker Sindh Assembly said.

Murad Ali Shah said: “Democratic people sacrificed their lives for the restoration of democracy. Soldiers of our army were also martyred while fighting the terrorists. I want to pray for all the martyred police officers.”

Prayer for forgiveness were held for those including MQM’s Abdul Waseem who died during MQM's election campaign.

Panel of chairman

Saeed Ghani, Sharjeel Memon, Nadakhoro and Ali Sohriya were nominated as the Panel of Chairman.

10 lawmakers of Sunni Ittehad Council take oath

Sunni Ittehad Council members including Shabir Qureshi talking to the media said: “Today we have reached the assembly. Our members achieved success through hard work. That's why we didn't take oath yesterday.”

“They (treasury benches) members are swearing on based on false mandate,” Shabir Qureshi alleged.

“Our oath will be echoed in the Assembly today,” Shabir Qureshi claimed.

Secuirty arrangements

The roads around the assembly have been blocked with containers as roads leading from Karachi Press Club to Fawarah Chowk was blocked with containers.

"There are containers along the road leading from II Chandragarr Road to Shaheen Complex," SAMAA TV reported.

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