ISLAMABAD:A senior-ranking leader in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from Rawalpindi district and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Friday emerged as the candidate for the National Assembly speaker slot.
Raja today submitted his nomination papers for National Assembly speaker election. His proposer and seconders were Khurshid Shah and Naveed Qamar. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is a Pakistani businessman, agriculturist, and politician who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from 22 June 2012 until completing his designated term on 16 March 2013.
He is a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from NA-58 (Rawalpindi-II), and also serves as the Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an anti-establishment coalition of political parties in Pakistan.
Prior to being elevated as prime minister, he served as the Minister for Water and Power in the Yousaf Raza Gillani-led government from March 2008 to February 2011. Ashraf assumed premiership on 22 June 2012 after Yousaf Raza Gillani was disqualified over contempt of court charges. Shortlisted by the PPP as a candidate for the post, he was eventually elected based on a 211-89 vote in the National Assembly.