ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday about his inability to confirm “genuineness” of the resignations submitted by legislators belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

An official of the NA Secretariat said that by officially informing the ECP the speaker had reiterated his position that until PTI lawmakers individually visited him their resignations would not be accepted.

“I am directed to further inform you that in spite of our consistent efforts, the members of the PTI whose resignations were received in this secretariat have avoided to come forward to verify the genuineness and voluntary nature of their resignations,” said a letter sent by the speaker to the ECP.

In the letter addressed to the Director General, Elections, ECP, reference was made to rule No 43 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, under which Speaker was allowed to seek confirmation of a resigning member as he deems suitable.

Although the ECP doesn’t require any such formal correspondence from the office of Speaker, a letter signed by Mohammad Mushtaq, Joint Secretary, Legislation, was sent to the ECP.

Neither Mr Mushtaq nor his boss, Additional Secre­tary, Legislation, Qamar Sohail Lodhi, were available for official version.

The role of the commission, according ECP officials, only starts after the resignation of a lawmaker is accepted by Speaker.

Director Media, Naila Maqsood, said the Speaker had followed the constitutional procedure to verify the resignations but PTI members did not appear before him separately so he had informed the ECP of this position because the ECP had earlier written to the Speaker and asked him about the position of resignations.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014