April 07, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1429

KARACHI, April 6: Pakistan People’s Party candidates Nisar Ahmad Khuhro and Shehla Raza were elected unopposed as speaker and deputy speaker of the Sindh assembly on Sunday. No other candidate had filed nomination papers for the posts.

Outgoing Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah scrutinised the candidates’ papers and declared them valid.

For the office of speaker, four nomination papers were filed proposed by Haji Muawwar Ali Abbasi, Shama Mithani, Murad Ali Shah and Ayaz Soomro and seconded by Ahmad Ali Shah, Mukesh Kumar, Dr Sikander Mandhro and Muzaffar Ali Shujra.

Two nominations were filed for the post of deputy speaker proposed by Shazia Marri and Fayyaz Butt and seconded by Salim Khurshid Khokhar and Dr Nasrullah Baloch.

Syed Muzaffar Shah said that results would be officially announced on Monday after which he would administer oath to the new speaker who would then swear in the deputy speaker.

The assembly will meet again at 5pm for ascertainment of the leader of house.

The Pakistan People’s Party has nominated its old guard Syed Qaim Ali Shah for the office who would be administered oath the following day by Governor Ishratul Ibad as the new chief minister of the province.