PTI Wins PA Speaker Election, Expels Mazari.

LAHORE -- The Punjab Assembly on Friday elected Mohammad Sibtain Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the new Speaker, returning to a semblance of normalcy after three months of political upheaval in Punjab.

Sibtain Khan, a lawmaker belonging to a remote district of Mianwali, defeated Saiful Malook Khokhar of the PML-N by 10 votes. He got 185 votes as against his rival's 175.

Four votes were rejected, presumably three from the Opposition and one from the ruling alliance. Two Punjab Assembly members, Jalil Sharqpuri and Faisal Niazi of the PML-N recently resigned from their Assembly seats while one PML-N member Kashif Mahmood was disqualified in a fake degree case. Ch Nisar Ali Khan, an independent member, did not turn up to cast his vote in the speaker's election.

The polling process went smoothly except for two brief interruptions. Panel of Chairman Wasim Khan Badozai conducted the voting for election of the Speaker. The polling had to be stopped for five minutes when Rana Mashhood and Saiful Malook Khokhar of the PML-N raised objection to the serial number written on the ballot paper and the counter-file. They argued with the Secretary Assembly and exchanged hot words. They were of the view that secrecy of the ballot has been compromised as it was possible to find out later who had voted for whom. In the meanwhile, Saiful Malook snatched the Ballot register from the Secretary Assembly and threw it towards the Opposition benches. Rukhsana Kausar of the PML-N got hold of it and plucked four ballot papers. The presiding chairman called the security staff to protect the ballot boxes and polling material.

The matter was later resolved but the ballot papers were not returned as they were not stamped and could not be misused.

The House also witnessed a brief commotion when the Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Mohammad Mazari entered the House escorted by PML-N members. The PTI members raised slogans of 'lota lota' as he approached the Secretary Assembly to get his ballot paper.

The ruling party members also surrounded the polling booth apparently to manhandle him. At one point, the Opposition and Treasury members were face to face, but the scuffle was averted by the intervention of saner lawmakers from both sides.

Also, following his election, Sibtain Khan took the oath of office. Presiding chairman Wasim Khan Badozai administered the...