LAHORE: The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, assured Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq on Sunday that he would not hurry through the processing of the resignations submitted to his office by MNAs of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The JI emir, who had called on the speaker at the latter’s residence here, urged him to delay a decision on the resignations in order to give some more time to the conciliation process.

Mr Haq was optimistic that the dispute between the PML-N and PTI would be resolved in 48 hours.

Mr Sadiq himself could not receive the resignations bec­ause he had left for Lahore on Friday evening before PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Arif Alvi and others arrived at the National Assembly secretariat.

The speaker told newsmen after the meeting that he had assured the JI emir of doing everything possible in the interest of the Constitution and democracy. He also said that the standard operating procedure would be followed in the processing of the resignations.

Responding to a question, Mr Haq said Imran Khan’s statement about getting married in ‘new Pakistan’ was a positive sign in the current tense atmosphere.

Mr Sadiq, who had defeated the PTI chief in the 2013 elections from NA-122, said he would be happy to attend Mr Khan’s wedding if he was invited as a witness to the Nikah.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2014