NA speaker says he is silent because of his office
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MUZAFFARABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Thursday he was exercising restraint in keeping with his position and cautioned that his silence should not be misconstrued as weakness.
“I have pledged to uphold the prestige and sanctity of the office I am holding. Therefore I will not resort to the kind of language some people have been using (against me),” he said in reply to a question about Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan’s allegations against him.
“But my silence should not be misconstrued as weakness,” he warned. “If I am hurt, perhaps they may not endure its consequences.”
The speaker was talking to reporters on the sidelines of women parliamentarians’ conference on peace in Kashmir. The two-day event, organised by the women caucus in the AJK Legislative Assembly, is being attended by over 25 women members of the National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan.
When a reporter sought comments on the PTI chief’s claim about a National Database and Registration Authority’s report containing evidence of irregularities in NA-122 during the 2013 general elections, Mr Sadiq replied that Nadra would itself clarify whether it had given the report (to Mr Khan) or not.
Mr Sadiq was elected MNA from the constituency but the PTI has challenged his election in an election tribunal.
“I will not make a political statement. But let me tell you that I will not visit any person who is to decide my case because it will make him controversial,” he said, alluding to Imran Khan’s meeting with the Nadra chief.
In reply to a question, he said a sub judice matter should not be discussed in public. “Neither have I spoken about a sub judice matter in the past nor will I do so in future…We should wait for the tribunal’s decision.”
He said he had taken the oath to remain impartial and he would adhere to the oath. “I will do what will raise the honour and prestige of my office.”
Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2015
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