Speaker, deputy speaker take oath after election to AJK Assembly

Chaudhry Tariq Farooq of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been elected the 16th speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly. His party colleague, Muhammad Ahmed Raza Qadri, secured the position of deputy speaker.

The elections for both offices took place on Tuesday during a session chaired by the outgoing speaker, Chaudhry Latif Akbar of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Akbar, who could not retain his seat in the recent general elections, oversaw the proceedings before handing over the gavel to Farooq. All 46 legislators, comprising 32 from the PML-N and its allies, and 14 from the PPP, participated in the vote.

Farooq, representing LA-7 (Bhimber City), garnered 32 votes, defeating Majeed, who received 13 votes. One PPP vote was rejected, reportedly cast by Zobia Khurshid Raja, elected to a women's reserved seat. Speculation arose about the rejection, with Raja apparently indicating she had used a tick instead of a cross on the ballot.

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I and Akbar were the last members of the outgoing Assembly who had also been elected in 1985, following the restoration of democracy in AJK and Pakistan.

Following Farooq's election, PML-N leader Raja Farooq Haider paid tribute to Akbar for his smooth conduct of the assembly. Haider noted their shared history as members elected in 1985. PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin also commended Akbar's commitment to the party and democracy.

Later, Farooq presided over the deputy speaker election, where Qadri won with 32 votes against Lone's 13. Another PPP vote was rejected, fueling internal party discussions about potential deliberate actions. Both Qadri and Lone represent Kashmiri refugee constituencies. The PML-N had considered Raja Asif for the deputy speaker role, but he declined, and the PPP also changed its nominee before settling on Lone.

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big tribute