
KABUL(PAN): The Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of Parliament, elected Khalid Pakhtun as deputy speaker in a second round of voting on Sunday.
The first round of election between Pakhtun, a public representative from Kandahar, and Rahila Saleemi from Panjsher produced no clear winner. Pakhtun bagged the required number of votes, more than 50 percent.
Of the 215 MPs present in a house of 249, a contestant had to get at least 108 votes for an outright victory. Pakhtun bagged 114 ballots to win the office.
Rahila Saleemi got 70 votes.Nineteen of the ballots were declared invalid and nine others were found blank
Under the relevant rules, two people could run for three times for the deputy speaker's slot. If they fail to win the required 50 percent plus one vote in the three rounds, new contenders enter the race.
Article 78 of the Constitution states: "Each of the two houses, at the commencement of their work period, shall elect one member as speaker for the term of the legislature, and two members as first and second deputies and another two as secretary and assistant secretary for a period of one year.
"These individuals shall form the administrative teams of the House of People (Wolesi Jirga) as well as House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga). Duties of the administrative teams shall be determined by the Regulations on Internal Duties of each house."
Pakhtun elected as deputy speaker | Pajhwok Afghan News

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