LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari for deputy speaker office of the Punjab Assembly. He was elected MPA from PP-297 (Rajanpur-II).

Earlier, he was an MNA on the PPP ticket in 2008 by defeating Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dareshak. However, in 2013, he contested MNA election as an independent candidate and lost the seat to PML-N’s Hafeezur Rehman Dareshak.

Mr Mazari met PTI Chairman Imran Khan at his Banigala residence on August 10 where he was finalised for the deputy speaker slot. PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the candidate for Punjab Assembly speaker from the PTI and allies.

The Punjab Assembly’s first session has been called for Wednesday, where newly-elected MPAs and those returned to house on reserved seats will take oath.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan will administer oath to MPAs. The session of the 17th assembly of Punjab Assembly will begin at 10am.

Senator Chaudhry Sarwar has called party’s parliamentary party meeting at a local hotel on Wednesday evening. Elections for speaker and deputy speaker are expected on August 16.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018