NA spokesperson rejects reports of reference against SC judge

ISLAMABAD: Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has not filed a reference against any judge, a spokesperson for the National Assembly clarified on Saturday, after local media reports sparked rumours that a reference had been filed against Supreme Court judge Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

In a brief text message sent Saturday evening, the spokesperson for the National Assembly Secretariat denied the rumours, asking media to refrain from any exaggeration or attributing false statements to the Speaker.

"News regarding the speaker is false and speculation should be refrained from," said the spokesperson.

'Going all out to protect Nawaz Sharif'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan referred to reports of Ayaz Sadiq's reference against an apex court judge as mala fide intent and said the speaker was "going all out to simply protect Nawaz Sharif's corruption. 

The PTI further said Sadiq has revealed his bias and he is not fit to hold the office of national assembly speaker. Imran further demanded Sadiq's immediate resignation. 

Earlier it was reported that a debate regarding the filing of reference against Supreme Court's Justice Asif Saeed Khosa by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq continued with certain quarters claiming that no reference is being prepared at the moment.

However, it was claimed that a reference had been filed with the Supreme Judicial Council but it was later reported that a reference was in the midst of being prepared.

Later, sources in the attorney general's office stated no reference was filed with the judicial council. The same was said by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Talal Chaudhry.

While speaking to Geo News, Talal Chaudhry said it was a Speaker's constitutional right to file a complaint. But, he added, the speaker is a custodian of the Parliament, therefore, was responsible for the honour of the House.

However, National Assembly sources denied knowledge of any such reference being prepared.