MUZAFFARABAD: Chaudhary Tariq Farooq of the PML-N was elected the 16th speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, while party colleague Muhammad Ahmed Raza Qadri was elected deputy speaker, in elections to both offices held on Tuesday.

The session started at 2:30pm, with outgoing Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar of the PPP in the chair. Akbar could not retain his seat in the recent general elections.

The PPP had fielded Chaudhry Qasim Majeed and Aamir Abdul Ghaffar Lone for the two offices.

All 46 legislators — 32 from the PML-N and its ally and 14 from the PPP — who had taken oath on Monday participated in the polling.

Farooq, elected from LA-7 (Bhimber City), secured 32 votes, while Majeed, elected from LA-2 (Chakswari), received 13 votes, with one PPP vote being rejected.

The rejected vote was reportedly cast by PPP lawmaker Zobia Khurshid Raja, who was elected to a women’s reserved seat through a draw of lots after her votes had equalled those of PML-N candidate Riffat Abid.

After Majeed and some other PPP lawmakers pointed out that Raja’s vote had been rejected, she reportedly told a colleague that she had marked a tick rather than a cross on the ballot paper.

Farooq was then administered the oath by his predecessor.

PML-N leader Raja Farooq Haider, whose camaraderie with Akbar is well known, paid rich tribute to him for running the House smoothly. He highlighted that he 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.

PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin also paid what he described as a “big tribute” to Akbar, praising his unflinching commitment to the PPP and democracy.

Farooq later conducted the election for deputy speaker, which was won by Qadri with 32 votes. Interestingly, Lone also secured 13 votes, with one PPP vote being rejected again, prompting speculation within the party about whether the rejection was deliberate rather than accidental.

Farooq then administered the oath to Qadri as deputy speaker.

Both Qadri and Lone belong to Kashmiri refugee constituencies — the former from Rawalpindi and the latter from Karachi.

The PML-N had reportedly earlier decided to field Raja Asif of LA-11 (Sehnsa) for the slot, but he declined the offer. The PPP had initially nominated Zaffar Iqbal Malik of LA-8 (Raj Mahal) before changing its decision and fielding Lone.

Members from both sides made brief speeches congratulating Farooq on his election and expressing good wishes. Alongside Haider, among those who spoke were PML-N president Shah Ghulam Qadir, Syed Shoukat Shah, Sehrish Qamar, Pir Mazhar Saeed and Qadri. PPP members also spoke, including Yasin, Majeed, outgoing prime minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Abdul Majid Khan, Mian Abdul Waheed and Deevan Ali Chughtai.

They expressed the hope that the new speaker would ensure impartiality in conducting the proceedings and provide adequate space to both the treasury and opposition benches to voice their concerns.

Former law minister Mian Abdul Waheed said Farooq had earned the office through his political struggle, hard work and contribution to the parliamentary system.

“You got this office on merit, owing to your political struggle, hard work and valuable contribution to the system. I congratulate your party for elevating you to this office,” he said.

Farooq, a Bhimber resident who defeated former prime minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq by a margin of more than 12,000 votes, is the PML-N’s regional secretary general. He is regarded as a well-versed and articulate politician who regularly engages with party workers and the wider public through social media platforms.

He also has close connections with the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK and Europe. Several prominent members of the diaspora, including Ateeque-ur-Rehman, a former mayor of Oldham, travelled to AJK to attend his swearing-in ceremony.

His election and oath-taking were witnessed from the visitors’ gallery by all three of his wives and his children.

Speaking at the conclusion of the session, Farooq thanked members from both sides and said the office demanded impartiality.

“In a democratic society, the role of the opposition is very important. To me, all members carry equal importance regardless of their affiliations, and I will ensure they get maximum possible opportunity to voice the sentiments of their electorate and problems of their constituencies concerned,” he said.

“I will leave no stone unturned to maintain the dignity, honour and sanctity of this House,” he vowed.

Since the office of the AJK president has remained vacant since January, Farooq will also serve as acting president, as did his predecessor, until the election of a new president.

Meanwhile, the schedule for the election of the leader of the House was also issued on Tuesday. According to the schedule, nomination papers will be submitted and scrutinised on Thursday, followed by polling the same day.

The newly elected leader of the House will take oath before the acting president at the High Court ground on Thursday afternoon.