Jan Jamali elected speaker Balochistan Assembly unopposed
A senior member of the Balochistan Awami Party, Jan Muhammad Jamali, was elected as the new speaker of the Balochistan Assembly on Saturday.
He was elected unopposed as no other lawmaker submitted nomination papers for the position. His nomination papers were signed by Nawabzada Tariq Magsi.
The post had fallen vacant earlier this week after the previous speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo stepped down as he was being considered for the office of the province's chief executive.
Bizenjo was sworn in as the Balochistan chief minister on Friday.Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmed Agha had convened a meeting of the provincial assembly at 3pm on Saturday, during which a vote was to be taken for a new speaker.
The meeting was convened under Article 108 of the Constitution, read in conjunction with Rule 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the Balochistan Assembly.However, a formal announcement of the new office-bearer will be made at the end of the ongoing assembly session convened under Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmed Agha’s chair.
Read: Bizenjo begins second innings as Balochistan CM
The acting speaker informed that since Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali is undergoing treatment in the hospital due to ill health and is unable to take the oath.
On this occasion, prayers were offered for the recovery of Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, after which the Acting Speaker Sardar Babar Musa Khel read out the governor's order to adjourn the assembly for an indefinite period.
In a congratulatory message, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, who was elected unopposed as the new chief of the province yesterday, congratulated the new speaker.
“Today, the entire House has expressed its confidence in the newly elected speaker,” he said, expressing hope that the newly elected speaker would run the House with complete impartiality, democratic traditions and good manners.Jamali, who joined BAP in 2018, had participated in the 2013 elections on PML-N's ticket and was successful.
From June 2013 to 2015, he was the speaker of the Balochistan Assembly and also served twice as deputy chairman of the Senate.