Babar Salim Swati, the candidate of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) — the home of PTI-backed independents who won seats in the Feb 8 polls — has been elected the new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly speaker.

Swati secured 89 votes while PPP’s Ehsanullah Miankhel secured 17 votes. Outgoing Speaker Mushtaq Ghani administered the oath to Swati.

Swati is the PTI’s divisional president in Hazara and is the MPA-elect from PK-37.

 KP assembly speaker Babar Salim Swati. — via Arif Hayat
KP assembly speaker Babar Salim Swati. — via Arif Hayat

Opinion

Editorial

Writing on the wall
27 Jul, 2026

Writing on the wall

EVERY few months, another set of figures reminds Pakistan of a painful reality. Sahil’s latest Six Months Cruel...
Still unprepared
27 Jul, 2026

Still unprepared

EVEN as Pakistan counts around 100 deaths since the onset of the monsoon season on June 26, it is bracing for ...
Delayed devolution
27 Jul, 2026

Delayed devolution

THE debate over Islamabad’s reluctance to fully let go of devolved subjects has been running since 2010. But it ...
Quid pro quo
Updated 26 Jul, 2026

Quid pro quo

Accepting Israel would mean legitimising its violence against the Palestinians, as well as its neighbouring Arab states and Iran.
AI in government
26 Jul, 2026

AI in government

THE Prime Minister’s Office has announced the introduction of an AI-powered digital system and directed ministries...
Cautious optimism
26 Jul, 2026

Cautious optimism

THE latest polio surveillance figures offer some encouraging news regarding the difficult fight against polio. The...