Vacant slot: Balochistan Assembly elects JUI-F man as new speaker
Matiullah Agha’s election follows that of Fouzia Marri as deputy speaker.
Matiullah Agha’s election follows that of Fouzia Marri as deputy speaker. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA:
The Balochistan Assembly elected Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Matiullah Agha as its speaker on Monday. The slot had been vacant after the assembly passed a no-trust motion against former speaker Aslam Bhootani last week.
Meanwhile, Dr Fouzia Marri was elected the assembly’s deputy speaker, marking the first time in history a female legislator was elected unopposed to the deputy speaker’s slot in the Balochistan Assembly.
No other candidate submitted nomination papers for the vacant speaker’s slot, allowing Agha, who was formerly the assembly’s deputy speaker, to be elected unopposed. Being a candidate, Agha could not continue as the session’s chair. The session was subsequently chaired by Dr Fouzia, a member of the Panel of Chairpersons of the House. She also administered Agha’s oath upon his election.
With Agha’s election, his former slot fell vacant. While Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Basant Lal Gulshan submitted nomination papers for the position along with Dr Fouzia, he later withdrew his candidature allowing the latter to be elected unopposed as well.
Upon the speaker and deputy speaker’s election, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani delivered a speech to congratulate Agha and Dr Fouzia, and thank legislators for their cooperation in the process.
“The election of the speaker and deputy speaker with consensus sets a precedent for others,” he remarked. He maintained that while certain quarters in the legislature remained furious with each other during the incumbent assembly’s tenure, they still demonstrated flexibility which heralded a welcome shift for democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2013.
The Balochistan Assembly elected Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Matiullah Agha as its speaker on Monday. The slot had been vacant after the assembly passed a no-trust motion against former speaker Aslam Bhootani last week.
Meanwhile, Dr Fouzia Marri was elected the assembly’s deputy speaker, marking the first time in history a female legislator was elected unopposed to the deputy speaker’s slot in the Balochistan Assembly.
No other candidate submitted nomination papers for the vacant speaker’s slot, allowing Agha, who was formerly the assembly’s deputy speaker, to be elected unopposed. Being a candidate, Agha could not continue as the session’s chair. The session was subsequently chaired by Dr Fouzia, a member of the Panel of Chairpersons of the House. She also administered Agha’s oath upon his election.
With Agha’s election, his former slot fell vacant. While Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Basant Lal Gulshan submitted nomination papers for the position along with Dr Fouzia, he later withdrew his candidature allowing the latter to be elected unopposed as well.
Upon the speaker and deputy speaker’s election, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani delivered a speech to congratulate Agha and Dr Fouzia, and thank legislators for their cooperation in the process.
“The election of the speaker and deputy speaker with consensus sets a precedent for others,” he remarked. He maintained that while certain quarters in the legislature remained furious with each other during the incumbent assembly’s tenure, they still demonstrated flexibility which heralded a welcome shift for democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2013.