Khursheed Shah advises NA Speaker to remain neutral

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah on Wednesday called out the National Assembly Speaker on the latter's decision to reject the opposition’s references against the prime minister.

Talking to the media in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq did not tell reasons for rejecting the opposition’s references against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“The Speaker should respect his designation and stay neutral,” Khursheed Shah said.

The opposition leader cited the example of former Speaker Fahmida Mirza and said that she had given reasons when she had rejected references against the then-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani.

The opposition would adopt a plan of action against the Speaker’s ruling in accordance with the Constitution and law, Khursheed Shah said, adding that according to tradition the ruling should be challenged in court.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) references had also been rejected and hence PTI should make a decision too.

Khursheed Shah said that he had called for a meeting of leaders of opposition parties on Thursday to discuss the matter.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) earlier this week received eight references for disqualification of the prime minister, PTI chief Imran Khan and PTI leaders Jehangir Tareen and Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

Four references filed against the prime minister were rejected by Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, according to sources.

References filed against the prime minister by PTI, Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rasheed and former Member of National Assembly Umar Farooq were rejected for lack of evidence.

Sources said that the Speaker rejected one reference filed against Imran Khan but forwarded another reference filed by PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz.

The speaker also rejected a reference filed against Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Pary chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

The ECP will consider the references in a few days.