Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has reiterated that he will continue to perform his constitutional responsibilities as the custodian of the house to safeguard parliamentary supremacy, uphold the constitution and protect the democratic process.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he warned that those who, while sitting inside the House, seek to conspire against Parliament are in fact acting against the interests of the state.
Ayaz Sadiq said that there will be no compromise on the Constitution, the rule of law, parliamentary sanctity and public order. He said that immature political leaders who claim to champion constitutional supremacy while simultaneously undermining the dignity and decorum of Parliament should first reflect on their own conduct. Ayaz Sadiq has said that new attempts are being made to weaken the Parliament and obstruct the legislative process; however, no pressure or attack against Parliament or democratic institutions will ever succeed.
He said that just as the conspiracy to assault Parliament in 2014 was thwarted, today again the same tendencies can be observed among certain elements yet every move against the state and its Parliament will meet inevitable failure. Ayaz Sadiq reaffirmed that the integrity, stability and sanctity of Parliament are absolutely non-negotiable, asserting that every conspiracy against it will be decisively thwarted.
He reiterated his resolve that Parliament is the true voice of the people of Pakistan, and no extra-constitutional measure will be allowed to hinder its functioning.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly on Monday witnessed the tabling of a resolution condemning Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s November 28 remarks, terming them a contemptuous attack on Parliament’s mandate and an attempt to derail proceedings through force. The Speaker, however, ruled there was no need for its adoption, leaving the resolution unpassed. Moved earlier by Ms Shumaila Rana, the resolution reaffirmed Parliament’s supremacy as the embodiment of the people’s will and a vital organ of the State under the Constitution. It underscored that while Articles 16 and 17 guarantee the rights of assembly and association, these freedoms are subject to lawful restrictions in the interest of Pakistan’s sovereignty, integrity, public order, and morality. The resolution cautioned that statements provoking disruption of parliamentary business or challenging the House’s legitimacy constitute an assault on democratic norms and a threat to law and order.