LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ) Senior Central Leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi after being elected as Punjab Assembly speaker said, “First of all, I am very grateful to Almighty Allah. Because of His blessings, I have been elected as speaker and representative of the House of Punjab. I am grateful to my ally party chief Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), PMLQ and all the members who put their trust and confidence in me.” Former deputy prime minister, Punjab chief minister and Local Bodies minister after being elected Speaker after 19 years, PMLQ Leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi further said, “I will try my level best to meet the requirements of the office for which trust has been reposed in me and treat equally all respectable members sitting in the House. This is my faith that this office is only and only due to blessings of Almighty Allah as such sitting on this chair I feel that I am answerable to all members of the Assembly present in the House. I will prove through my role that I am custodian of the entire House and taking care of privileges of all members of the Punjab Assembly will be my first priority. We have to run the House together through understanding, wisdom and farsightedness. We have to undertake greater struggle for the prosperity of the people of this country and the province so that there is no deprivation in any segment.” He expressed the belief that PTI will put the country and the province on the path of progress and every Pakistani citizen will be able to lead a prosperous life as beneficiary of this development. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi further said that this House is the most respectable and empowered institution. “People have eyes on each and every thing said here and as such I hope that like good parliamentarians, we will run the proceedings of the House in a nice manner and fully participate in the legislation for welfare and well-being of the people because good parliamentarians are the real precious asset of the country and the nation,” he said. He further said that he would assure all honourable members his full cooperation. “Today, we have to pledge that our entire attention will be towards basic problems of the nation and play effective and comprehensive role for protecting their life and property, eliminate corruption and provide justice and will also speed up process of legislation in this regard. We will play an important role in democratic traditions. In the end, I once again thank all members present in the House that have reposed trust in me. Insha Allah, I will leave no stone unturned in shouldering my duties and we will move together towards our destination. May Almighty Allah help and bless us all. Pakistan Zindabad, Quaid-e-Azam Paindabad,” he said. Published in Daily Times, August 17th 2018.