Ayaz Sadiq urges PTI to shun politics of ego

ISLAMABAD: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who is set to be re-elected as speaker of the National Assembly, Friday advised the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to be democratic and refrain from politics of ego which could damage the national interests and ongoing system in the country.
Speaking on floor of the Lower House after taking oath as Member of the National Assembly along with three other MNAs, Ayaz Sadiq observed that the verdict of the judicial commission, his re-election as MNA and PML-N’s sweeping victory in local government elections have belied allegations of rigging in the 2013 elections. “Following decision of the election tribunal, my leadership decided to move to court of masses which gave decision in our favour,” he said.
At outset of the Friday’s proceedings, acting speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, who was chairing proceedings, administered oath to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Babar Nawaz Khan, Riazul Haq Juj and Shazia Soomro.
As the ex-speaker entered the National Assembly hall, the members of PML-N raised slogans. Members from the ruling party, PPP, MQM and JUI-F greeted him one by one.
He maintained that neither did he use such a rough language nor would do so in future which was uttered from container during the prolonged ‘Dharna’ and he was dubbed as ‘rigged speaker’.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq without naming the PTI leadership reminded that it was not Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he himself (Ayaz Sadiq) or any party which suffered due to ‘Dharna’ rather it was Pakistan whose interests were harmed. “Those who did so will have to take the responsibility,” he said.
Ayaz Sadiq also requested his colleague MNAs to refrain from raising slogans of ‘shame shame’. “We do not want to use or teach language to our generations which was used from container,” he said.
He pointed that the election tribunal which ordered re-election in NA-122 Lahore, also did not support allegations of rigging and put all the blame on the election machinery.
Prior to speech of the ex-speaker, deputy parliamentary leader of PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi, speaking on a point of order, told acting speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi that as per rules of conduct of business of the House, no other proceedings except from oath-taking of new members could take place on first day of the session.
The PTI parliamentarian said the chair was indulging in violation of rules to conduct business of the House. “Earlier, you also bulldozed proceedings of the Business Advisory Committee and did not hear our views,” Qureshi said.
He said the chair is considered to be custodian of the House, therefore, the person chairing proceedings should conduct proceedings while living above from political affiliations
However, the acting speaker said the House was being run as per rules and regular proceedings have not been started.
Following speech of the ex-speaker, Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that as per rules, the chair could not allow any points of order or take up any other point.
The House also offered Fateha for departed souls of those who lost their lives in the Mina tragedy, earthquake, attack on a PAF base in Peshawar and factory collapse in Lahore, Punjab Minister Shujaa Khanzada, son of Jamaat-e-Islami’s parliamentary leader Sahibzada Tariqullah and others.