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PML-Q nominee is Pak
Parliament speaker

K J M Varma in Islamabad

Pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) party's Chaudhary Amir Hussain was on Tuesday elected speaker of the new parliament amidst allegations of rigging and coercion.

Pro-tem speaker of the national assembly, Ilahi Bux Sumroo, announced Hussain's election after five hours of wrangling between pro and anti-Musharraf parties over the procedures followed in the election.

Hussain, a former minister, received 167 votes, followed by hardline Islamic alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's Liaqat Baluch, who polled 80. Former premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party -- Parliamentarians nominee Atizaz Asan secured only 71 votes in the 342-member House.

Four votes were declared invalid while five members abstained. Six members who won from two constituencies have vacated one of their seats.

After winning the speaker's election, the pro-Musharraf PML-Q also won the post of deputy speaker albiet with a reduced majority.

Sardar Muhammad Yacub was elected as deputy speaker with 163 votes cast in his favour. He secured four votes less than those polled in favour of Chaudhary Amir Hussain.

The Islamic Party Alliance's nominee for the post, Hafeez Hussain Ahmad, secured 82 votes and the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians' (PPPP) candidate won 69 votes.

The election for the deputy speaker's post were held in a secret ballet. The result should worry the PML-Q as it was not able to secure over 170 votes necessary to win the post of prime minister.

Meanwhile, President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday issued a notification stating the country's new parliament elect the prime minister on November 21.

More reports from Pakistan

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