ISLAMABAD - National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has been left with two options - either to bring a stay order from the Supreme Court or once again contest election from NA-122 - as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday de-notified him as member of the National Assembly.
The ECP after receiving a detailed judgment of the tribunal that had ordered re-election in NA-122, said Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has lost his membership of the lower house from August 22, the day when the tribunal passed its judgment.
Mr Sadiq, who is associated with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), got elected from NA-122 defeating PTI Chairman Imran Khan with the latter challenging the results in the election tribunal that finally announced its verdict in favour of Mr Khan by declaring the results null and void.
Now Ayaz is left with no option but to challenge the tribunal’s decision in the Supreme Court by getting a stay order in his favour or contest by-election to retain his membership.
Official sources in ECP told The Nation that the commission refrained from giving a schedule of the by-poll after the seat of NA-122 fell vacant. “The ECP simply issued a de-notification of Ayaz Sadiq although it should have issued the schedule for the by-polls too,” he said.
“It is the general practice that the ECP notifies a vacant seat and election schedule simultaneously. This time the commission only de-notified the membership of Ayaz Sadiq and did not touch upon the schedule of by-election,” he explained.
Interestingly, the ECP on Monday through a notification asked voters in PP-16 to elect their new member of Punjab Assembly. The seat had fallen vacant after the assassination of Punjab Home Minister Col (r) Shuja Khanzada.
The commission fixed October 6 as the polling day in PP-16 or Attock-II giving a detailed schedule. While PTI has rejoiced the decision of Lahore’s election tribunal against Ayaz Sadiq, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had told reporters that the verdict would be challenged in the Supreme Court.
But majority of PML-N leaders including cabinet members have advised Mr Sadiq to get ready for re-election from the constituency arguing that PTI was not in a position to clinch the seat keeping in view the dwindling popularity of Imran Khan.
On Sunday, when chairman PTI held a press conference in Islamabad, he made it clear that he would not contest against Mr Sadiq in case the latter does not approach the apex court.
Mr Khan even questioned the current set-up of ECP saying the commission was being dictated by the party in power and sought resignation of ECP members.
Similarly, Ayaz Sadiq too has hinted at getting a stay order from the court.
“I respect the judgment and accept it but due to our reservations, we will go to the Supreme Court,” he had said after the verdict was announced.
Ayaz Sadiq surrenders Speaker’s perks and protocol
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday gave up National Assembly Speaker’s official protocol and perks, two days after being de-seated by an election tribunal.
It may be noted that an election tribunal had ordered re-polling in Lahore’s NA-122 and PP-147 constituencies, won by PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq and Mian Mohsin Latif in general elections 2013.
Officials confirmed that Sardar Ayaz has formally quit his perks, protocol and vehicles he was possessing as a Speaker.
Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking order to recover benefits and perks received by former Ayyaz Sadiq and Mohsin Latif. Petitioner Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi has filed the application under article 184 (3) of the constitution.
The law ministry, the chief election commissioner, PTI chief Imran Khan, Sadiq and others have been made respondent in the petition.
The petitioner has contended that Sadiq stands no more NA speaker, therefore, TA/DA and other benefits he enjoyed while in the office should be recovered from him. The petitioner has also pleaded the court to issue orders to put the names of Sadiq and Latif on the ECL.