PTI solicits PPP’s support for NA speaker, deputy speaker

–Khursheed Shah says PPP will support all public and national interest legislation of the new PTI government

–National Assembly session to start from today

–Election of NA speaker, deputy speaker on 15 August

–Imran Khan to take oath as prime minister on 18 August

–Alongwith NA,  Sindh, Balochistan and KP assemblies to also have first sessions today

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has asked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for votes for its candidate for the speaker and deputy speaker in the National Assembly (NA).

Leaders of the two parties met on Sunday to hold discussion on the NA session scheduled for Monday.

PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said that he has asked PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah to withdraw from the race in favour of its candidate Asad Qaiser for speaker NA.

Shah was nominated by the joint opposition for speaker.

The meeting was attended by PTI leaders Shafqat Mehmood, Asad Qaiser, Omar Ayub and others, while Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar represented PPP.

After the meeting, Shah told media that all political leaders should play their role in parliament, adding that his party would support all public and national interest legislation of the new PTI government.

Criticising the PTI for nominating Asad Qaiser for the seat of National Assembly Speaker, Khursheed Shah said the speaker should be a senior parliamentarian like himself and Naveed Qamar.

Prior to the PPP meeting, Fawad Ch also met outgoing Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Speaking to the media in the federal capital on Sunday, the PTI spokesperson said that they want all political parties to move forward with them as they consider it essential for a good working relationship.

He added that Pakistan is surrounded by problems, which can be resolved only through unity.

ELECTIONS OF SPEAKER, DEPUTY SPEAKER ON AUGUST 15:

While the National Assembly session has summoned by President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday at 10:00 am, the newly-elected members of the National Assembly would take oath on August 15. Outgoing NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will administer oath to them.

According to the schedule issued by the NA Secretariat, elections of speaker and deputy speaker in NA will be held on August 15. Nomination papers for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker will be delivered to the NA Secretariat before 12:00 noon.

The election will be held through secret balloting.

Similarly, election for the new PM will be held on August 17 whereas nomination papers for the same can be submitted by August 16 before 2:00 pm. PTI has already announced that Imran Khan will take oath on August 18.

NUMBERS GAME:

According to the ECP, PTI’s number in the NA increased to 125 after nine out of 13 independent candidates who won the election joined the PTI. Following the formula laid down in the constitution, PTI has now been allotted as many as 28 reserved women and five minority seats in the lower house of the parliament, taking its total seats to 158.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has captured the second spot as its total strength is 82 after adding 16 women and two minority seats. The PML-N originally won 64 general seats for NA on July 25.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) remains third with 53 general seats after being allotted two seats reserved for minorities and nine reserved seats  for women.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has fifteen members in the house with 12 general seats, two women and a minority member.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) would receive one woman reserved seat each.

SESSIONS OF NATIONAL, SINDH, KP, BALOCHISTAN ASSEMBLIES ON MONDAY:

Other than the NA session, first sessions of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan Assemblies have also been summoned on Monday at 10:00 am while Punjab governor has summoned the first session of the provincial assembly on Wednesday at 10:00 am.

ZARDARI, BILAWAL GET REGISTRATION CARDS FOR NA SESSION:

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday got registration cards from the NA’s facilitation centre.

Strict security arrangements are in place for the NA session and no parliamentarian will be able to attend the session without a registration card. To provide registration cards to the newly-elected parliamentarians, NA Secretariat has established a facilitation centre in Committee Room No 2 at the Parliament House.