Appointment of opposition leader: NA speaker says he has formally written to opposition chief whip

ISLAMABAD: Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, while responding to the remarks made by PTI MNA Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, said that he has formally written to Malik Aamir Dogar, Chief Whip of the Opposition, regarding the appointment of the Opposition Leader in the House.

He stated, “Malik Aamir Dogar displayed a file in the House, referring to it as a ‘court order’; however, I have not yet received the file that was presented in the House.”

The Speaker clarified that the matter concerning the former Leader of the Opposition is currently pending before the court, and no action can be taken. “I am legally restrained in this matter. Until a clear order from the court is received, I cannot make any decision,” Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq emphasised.

Responding to Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s suggestion that he should play a role in reducing tensions between the opposition and the government, the Speaker said, “You suggested that I play my role. I have played my role before, but I did not receive the due acknowledgement for it. I do not wish to go into details, but whenever I tried to move forward, I had to take even more steps back. Nevertheless, I am still ready today to play my role as harmony requires effort from both sides. You may hold consultations among yourselves, and I will speak to the government, as well.”

The Speaker expressed concern over statements targeting national institutions, noting that such criticism benefits neither the House nor the country. “These institutions belong to all of us. They are the ones guarding our borders and fighting against terrorism. We should remain focused on the responsibilities entrusted to this Parliament,” he said.

Speaker Sadiq stressed that lasting solutions to national issues can only emerge from dialogue held within Parliament. He added, “Discussions taking place outside Parliament serve no purpose. If we sit together and deliberate here inside this House, I am confident that a way forward will be found.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025