PML-N's Ayaz Sadiq returns as 20th NA speaker with 268 votes

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's MNA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has been elected as 20th speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, bagging 268 votes out of 300 total cast votes.

Caretaker speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi administered his oath after the election.

Chairing the session after being elected as speaker from the same National Assembly, he paid regards to all of his supporters who showed confidence his in personality. I am thankful to Allah for returning in the position once again, he said.

He went on to say that that his victory is actually a victory of democracy which further strengthen the parliamentary system.

He pledged to continue working maintaining his neutral position in the house.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Shafqat Mahmood of PTI were in run for the seat. Mahmood got 31 votes.

Caretaker speaker Murtaza Javed Abbassi presided over the election, while secretary NA administered the balloting for the slot.

Three candidates initially submitted nomination papers for the slot, however independent candidate from FATA Ghazi Ghulab Jamal withdrewn his nomination papers in favor of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

PPP, MQM, JUI-F, Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as independent members from FATA had announced support for the PML-N candidate.

On the other hand PTI's Shafqat Mahmood enjoyed support of his party and Pakistan Awami Muslim League.

The seat went vacant when an election tribunal declared election of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as null and void on August 22. He was reelected as MNA on October 11 in a by-poll.