Islamabad: Fahmida Mirza is all set to become the first woman Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly. The Pakistan People's Party today nominated 51-year-old Mirza, a medical graduate and Faisal Karim Kundi as its candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively of the lower house of parliament.

The two candidates are expected to win as the PPP and its allies - PML-N, Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam have a majority in the National Assembly. If she is elected, Mirza will be the first woman Speaker of Pakistan.

The deadline for the filing of nomination papers for the two posts ended at noon today. Polling for the posts will be held through secret ballot at 11 am tomorrow and the new Speaker will take charge as custodian of the House the same day.

The nominations were made by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari very late last night following weeks of consultations with the party's MPs and its allies.

Mirza comes from a political family of Sindh province. She is the wife of Zulfiqar Mirza, a member of the Sindh provincial assembly and a close aide of Zardari. She won in the February 18 polls from the coastal district of Badin.
Source : PTI