ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq was ‘stood up’ on Thursday by members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) who were supposed to verify their resignations in person.

PTI’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Arif Alvi and spokesperson Shireen Mazari had been invited by the speaker.

Know more: Hashmi urges NA speaker to accept PTI resignations

However, in keeping with the party’s stance that all 30 resigning MNAs be called to verify their resignations at the same time, the PTI members informed the speaker’s office they would only appear together.

However, the speaker’s day was not completely wasted, as members of an opposition jirga, seeking to negotiate an end to the prevailing political impasse met him in his office.

Opposition jirga urges speaker to delay acceptance of resignation

Jamaat-i-Islami chief Siraajul Haq, the National Party’s Hasil Bizenjo and the Pakistan People’s Party’s Rehman Malik called on the speaker and spent around 40 minutes with him on Thursday afternoon.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Haq said they had come to the speaker to request him not to accept the resignations of the PTI MNAs, since the jirga was still hopeful of a negotiated solution.

“In case the resignations are accepted, the crisis will only deepen. I personally believe that the doors for talks between the government and protesting parties are still open and they can resume dialogue any time,” he said.

Jirga members appeared concerned over a lack of response from all three sides on its proposals.

“The jirga’s proposals are certainly a test for both sides, but the nation expects them to give up false egos and take decisions in the greater national interest,” Mr Haq said.

Responding to a volley of questions, Mr Sadiq said that while he had great respect for the jirga members, he would follow the rules with regard to the PTI’s resignations. Asked what course of action he would take if the PTI didn’t respond to his notices, the speaker said he would “seek advice from the law ministry”.

When asked about Article 64(1) of the Constitution, which states that there is no need for a parliamentarian to personally confirm his/her resignation to the spea­ker, Mr Sadiq referred to a 1976 Supreme Court judgment, whereby the speaker is bound to establish the veracity of a resignation before its formal acceptance.

Talking about the de-seating of a lawmaker who remains absent for 40 consecutive days without leave, the speaker explained that in such cases a motion must be moved in the house and voted on.

Referring to the PTI MNAs’ request to be treated as one group, the speaker quipped, “You want me to create another D-Chowk inside Parliament House?”

However, PTI leaders maintain that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was trying to create divisions within the protesters’ ranks and said they had apprehensions about meeting the speaker separately.

Following his meeting with the speaker, the JI chief telephoned Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri and enquired after his health. The PAT chief reportedly thanked Mr Haq for his efforts towards reconciliation between the opposing sides.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2014