Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam–Fazl’s Zahid Akram Durrani has been elected unopposed as the 20th deputy speaker of the National Assembly after the resignation of Qasim Suri from the post.

NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath to the newly-elected deputy speaker and expressed confidence that he would safeguard the sovereignty of the House and will ensure rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and the Parliament, according to a tweet.

In his maiden speech to the Lower House of the Parliament as deputy speaker, Durrani said his constituency, NA-35, was the largest one across the country as per the population. Therefore, the deputy speaker would strive more seats from Bannu in the upcoming polls.

Talking about problems in his constituency, the deputy speaker said he would directly talk to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for solution of the issues.