Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was elected speaker of the Punjab Assembly on Thursday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominee secured 201 votes against PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal Gujjar’s 147. Elahi has been sworn in as speaker of the provincial assembly and was being felicitated by lawmakers on his victory when this report was filed.

Earlier, pandemonium reigned in the Punjab Assembly as voting for the top slots of speaker and deputy speaker commenced with many PML-N lawmakers resorting to sloganeering.

PTI candidates for the top slots look set to emerge victorious following reports of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) choosing not to back PML-N candidates. It has been suggested that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has instructed party MPAs to not vote for candidates of either party.

Earlier on Wednesday, newly-elected members of the Punjab Assembly took oath with the provincial assembly holding its maiden session for a fresh five-year term. The PTI won 179 seats in the provincial legislature following the conclusion of the 2018 general elections. The PML-N’s tally stands at 164. The PML-Q and the PPP clinched 10 and seven seats respectively. Independent candidates secured four seats.