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New speaker elected in J&K

Abdul Ahad Vakil was today unanimously elected speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P L Handoo proposed Vakil's name. This was seconded by Minister for Haj and Waqf Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah.

The speaker's post fell vacant following the induction of Ali Mohammad Naik into the state cabinet in June.

Vakil, a close associate of late Sheikh Abdullah, resigned from the state cabinet as revenue minister early this year.

Vakil (63) joined politics in 1953 and became the general secretary of the Plebiscite Front for three years. He was also jailed for five years during his association with the front.

After his election, Vakil was escorted to the speaker's chair by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah among others.

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