ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: The concluding session of the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday observed a one-minute silence to pay homage to late Benazir Bhutto, an official message received here said.

The recommendation for observance of silence was made in a unanimous resolution adopted at the meeting of the Asian group, presided over by Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza.

Muhammad Shafi Updal of Malaysia was elected chairman of the body’s executive committee for three years in an election held at the assembly’s concluding session.

He secured 150 votes against Lord Paul of the United Kingdom who secured 102 votes. Mr Updal will replace Hashmi Abdul Haleem of West

Bengal, whose term expired on Saturday.

The general assembly also approved the candidature of Karamatullah Khan, Speaker of the NWFP assembly, as regional representative from Asia.

He will replace Saleh Bhootani, Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, whose term also expired on Saturday.