Rahila Durrani becomes first female Speaker of Balochistan Assembly

QUETTA: Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani of the ruling Pakistan Muslim league – Nawaz (PML-N) was elected unopposed on Thursday to become the first-ever female Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly.

Rahila Durrani was elected to the provincial assembly on a reserved seat for women.

"I will try my best to meet the expectations of the people," she said as she took the seat of the Speaker for the first time.

She holds an MA and an LLB from University of Balochistan, and is currently a member of the Public Safety Commission Balochistan, National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW), and Balochistan Olympic Association.

Durrani was previously affiliated to the PML-Q and was the General Secretary of the PML-Q Women Wing in Balochistan. In 2002, she was elected to the Balochistan Assembly on a reserved seat on a PML-Q ticket.

The post of the Balochistan Assembly Speaker has been vacant since the resignation of former Speaker Jan Muhammad Jamali in May this year, and Deputy Speaker Qudoos Bizenjo has been performing duties as Speaker since then.