ISLAMABAD: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will likely have smooth sailing in his quest to regain his seat as the speaker of the National Assembly, as most mainstream parties — except the PTI — had assured him of their support in the election, to be held on Monday.

Mr Sadiq, who served as NA Speaker for a little over two years, had to quit after his election in the 2013 polls was voided by an election tribunal on a complaint filed by the PTI.

Sardar Ayaz submitted his nomination papers on Sunday and spent a busy day meeting other party leaders, seeking their support for Monday’s election.

Former speaker looks set to reclaim his seat after hectic round of meetings with party leaders

“I have been assured by all major political parties for their support in the election,” Mr Sadiq told Dawn after filing his nomination papers on Sunday.

MNAs Zahid Hamid, Talal Chaudhary, Tahira Aurangzeb, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Mohammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry and Abdul Hakeem Baloch proposed Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s for election as speaker.

Apart from Mr Sadiq, PTI’s Shafqat Mahmood and Fata MNA Syed Ghazi Gulab Jamal had also filed nomination papers. However, Mr Jamal said on Sunday that he would withdraw his nomination after the government agreed to Fata reforms and formed a five-member committee to chalk out a reform package for the tribal areas.

Mr Sadiq and former law minister Zahid Hamid met Dr G.G. Jamal twice on Sunday, with the last meeting held at around 8:30pm. Sources said that Dr Jamal assured Mr Sadiq of his complete support and said he would withdraw his nomination papers before the elections on Monday.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Jamal said both Mr Sadiq and Mr Hamid assured him that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had formed a five-member committee on Fata reforms. The committee would be headed by PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and consist of National Security Adviser retired Lt-Gen Nasir Janjua, Safron Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and Zahid Hamid.

Mr Sadiq also met MQM leader Farooq Sattar to seek his party’s support. After the meeting, he told mediapersons that the party had told him that they would decide whether to support him or not after their parliamentary committee meeting on Monday.

The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) also announced its support for Mr Sadiq after Pervez Elahi said the NA speaker should be a non-controversial figure.

Later, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) also issued an official handout announcing support for the PML-N candidate.

Mr Sadiq had met JI parliamentary leader Sahibzada Tariqullah at his residence to condole the death of his son, last month.

“On this occasion, Mr Sadiq sought the Jamaat’s support and the JI leader assured him the party would support since the JI emir Sirajul Haq had already authorised Mr Tariqullah to take a decision in this regard,” the JI handout said.

The main opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah had already announced their support for Mr Sadiq.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2015

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