ISLAMABAD: Professor Shabbir Lehri was elected president and Professor Abid Faroogi vice president of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) in the elections for the council held here on Saturday.

Results of the polls have been sent to the Ministry of National Health Services (NHA). New office-bearers will take charge as soon as the ministry issues a notification.

On Friday night, a consensus emerged among the council members to elect Dr Khalig Naveed as president and Dr Lehri as vice president for two years and, after that period, rotate the offices between the two.

But on Saturday, Mr Naveed reportedly insisted that he should remain president for the whole term of four years. At this, Dr Lehri group decided to go for elections.

Twenty-eight members of the council participated in the polls. According to results, Shabbir Lehri secured 18 votes and his rival 10, while Abid Farooqi obtained 16 and his opponent 14.

Six members of the executive committeewere also elected. They are: Dr Aamir Hussain Bandesha from Punjab, Dr Farukh Ijaz from Islamabad, Dr Taj Mohammad from Fata, Dr Feroz Jahangir from Sindh, Dr Shafigur Rehman from Balochistan and Dr Mussarat Hussain from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Lehri said that he would treat every member of the council as part of his team. `My doors will remain open for everyone.

All decisions would be taken on the basis of merit, he said and added that the PMDC would be turned into a corruption-free organisation.

The newly elected vice-president said that he would welcome ideas on improving the council`s working from any corner, including the government.

Dr Bandesha thanked NHS Minister Saira Afzal Tarar for announcing that her ministry would support and facilitate the winner group.

Ms Tarar said in a statement: `We are happy to see that the elections have been held without any complications, and hope that the new body will endeavour to raise the standard of medical education.