NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq denies filing reference against Supreme Court judge

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat on Saturday rejected reports that  Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has filed  a reference against Supreme Court Judge, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, who headed five-member larger bench which disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Panama Papers case. 

The statement was issued by a spokesman for the lower House of the parliament who advised the people to refrain from making false statements about the speaker, according to Geo News.

Earlier, media reports said the Speaker had filed a reference against Justice Asif Saeed Khosa in Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) under Article 209 of the constitution.

The reports further said the speaker  objected over Justice Khosa's remarks made in the April 20 judgment in Panama case, adding Sadiq  stated the remarks reflected the judge's bias as none from the bench passed any such statements. 

Imran seeks Speakers resignation 

Reacting to the rumors about the reference, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Imran Khan took to Twitter and  demanded Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq to immediately resign from his post.

He said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq's reference against Justice Khosa has exposed his mala fide intent of going all out simply to protect Nawaz Shairf's corruption.

According to Khan, Ayaz Sadiq had revealed his bias earlier and now it has become clear that he is not fit to occupy the office of Speaker National Assembly. 

The PTI leader said Ayaz's comment that his Office is not an investigative agency begs the question how he forwarded reference against him and Jahangir Khan Tarin while rejecting reference against Nawaz Sharif NS?

The five-member larger bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa (head), Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh and Justice Ijazul Ahsan disqualifed Nawaz Sharif in Panama leaks case on July 28.