A session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for electing a new speaker and deputy speaker has begun. At the start of the session, outgoing Speaker Mushtaq Ghani administered the oath to two more MPAs-elect, taking the total number of lawmakers to 118.

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), the home of PTI-backed independents who won seats in the Feb 8 polls, has nominated Babar Salim Swati for speaker. Meanwhile, PPP’s Ehsanullah Miankhel is the opposition’s joint candidate for the speaker.

For deputy speaker, the SIC has nominated Suraya Bibi, who will be contesting against Arbab Wasim of the PTI-Parliamentarian.