No threat of Parliament being dissolved, says NA speaker

Published August 22, 2014
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. -Online/File Photo
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. -Online/File Photo

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Friday that there is threat of dissolution to the National Assembly from any quarter.

"The National Assembly now can only be dissolved if the prime minister advises the president, except this there is no other option", Sadiq told Dawn.com in an exclusive interview.

When asked about resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, the speaker said they would not be accepted in such haste.

"I will first write separate letters to each PTI MNA in order to verify whether they are willing to resign or not,” the Speaker said

He further disclosed that phone calls to each MNA would follow after letters to invite them for signing a pro forma after which resignations declared would be approved.

"Process would take time which could be two weeks from next working day," he said.

The Speaker said, “PTI MNAs came after Friday prayers when the secretary of the secretariat and myself were not present.

“But despite this I spoke to Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the phone and told him to leave the resignations with the NA secretary who was told to reach my office urgently,” he said.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said he was upset when PAT workers blocked the entrance of Parliament and that a senior military officer posted on security later ordered PAT workers to move aside, otherwise they would face action.

He confirmed that the NA session has been extended and that he did not receive any prorogation orders from the president, which was a clear message that the session should continue.

Sadiq said the resolution adopted by the House recently is a clear message of confidence in democracy and the supremacy of Parliament.

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