Asad Qaiser nominated as Speaker NA, Sarwar as Punjab Governor

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced to nominate Asad Qaiser as the next Speaker of the National Assembly.

This was announced by PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi while addressing media outside chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Banigala after a meeting of the party’s top leadership.

He said that Qaiser was fully aware of parliamentary procedures as he served as the Speaker of Khyber Pakthunkhwa Assembly since last five years.

He said that Asad Qaiser had a cordial relationship with the opposition in KP Assembly, and was chosen by Imran Khan keeping his experience in mind. Asad Qaiser has won election from NA-18 Swabi by securing 78,970 votes.

Asad Qaiser was previously under consideration for the post of chief minister KP, but was overlooked for having won a NA seat, which the party wanted to secure. Former provincial minister Mehmood Khan was chosen as CM instead.

Sarwar nominated as Governor Punjab

Qureshi further announced the party has decided to nominate Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar as the next Governor of Punjab. He said that the PTI has a clear majority in Punjab and will form the next government.

He said that Sarwar is well aware of the politics in the province, and the party will utilise his political experience to represent the federal government in the province.

Sarwar has previously remained on the coveted post. He was sworn in on August 15, 2013 but had a fallout with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government criticising it on several occasions. He resigned on January 29, 2015 and joined the PTI becoming a Senator in Punjab in the elections held earlier this year.

Qureshi said that session of the National Assembly has been summoned on August 13 when the newly-elected members will take their oath of office.

He thanked those parities who have expressed their support to the PTI including Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Balochistan National Party (BNP-M), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

He said they have signed an MoU with the MQM for the betterment of Karachi. He invited the allies on behalf of Imran Khan to establish and keep regular contact with the party.

Furthermore, Pervaiz Khattak has been given the responsibility to keep contact with members of the KP Assembly and the erstwhile FATA areas.

Arif Alvi has been tasked to establish contacts with members of the Sindh Assembly, Shafqat Mehmood with members of Central Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar in West Punjab, Amir Kiyani in North Punjab, while members of South Punjab are in contact with him.

He said the party has already announced PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, while Imran Khan will announce the candidate for the next chief minister of Punjab.