ISLAMABAD: With the course for strong democracy already set in the country, National Assembly would meet at 4 pm today in the Parliament building to elect the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza would conduct the proceedings of the House to elect the new Prime Minister through a division mechanism as no secret vote is held for election of the Prime Minister.
Makhdoom Yousaf Raza Gillani, candidate nominated by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian and its allied parties, would contest Chaudhery Pervez Elahi, the candidate of PML-Q and its allies for premiership.
Yousaf Raza Gillani and Chaudhery Pervez Elahi submitted their nomination papers on Saturday in the chamber of Secretary of the National Assembly Karamat Hussain Niazi. Their supporters accompanied both candidates on the occasion. Later Secretary of the National Assembly presented the nomination papers of both candidates to Dr. Fahmida Mirza for scrutiny. The Speaker scrutinized the papers in the presence of election agents and supporters of both candidates.
For the election of new Prime Minister of Pakistan, the members of NA will vote as per rule of 35 under National Assembly Rules of Business. The election will be conducted through “Voice Vote” and not through Secret ballot. The successful candidate is expected to get 300 votes while the leader of the opposition may get 50 to 60 votes. When the Speaker would rule in favor of candidate getting majority vote, the other candidate could challenge it.
After that bells would be rung inviting attention of the members to come to House and participate in proceedings. When the bells are rung, the entry doors of the House would be locked and election process would start.
Two galleries on left and right to the Speaker chair would be allocated for the members of Yousaf Raza Gillani and Chaudhery Pervez Elahi to show their support to candidates of their choice.
A roll register would be placed at the entry points of each gallery where the members supporting each candidate would write their names that would later be counted to ascertain how many members have votes for which candidate.
This process would culminate in counting of members in support of each candidate and the Speaker National Assembly would announce the result. The members are also expected to deliver speeches on the occasion.
Having adjourned the session, the Speaker will notify the name of candidate enjoying majority to the President of Pakistan under rule 38 of the Rules of Business of the National Assembly.