Doors for dialogue open for national interest, not personal agenda: Sadiq

ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly (NA) Ayaz Sadiq said on Friday the doors for dialogue will always remain open, but the dialogue should only be meant for securing national interest, not personal agenda.

“The parliamentary committee on negotiations will remain intact because negotiations are the only way forward,” he said while talking to the media persons after launching tree plantation drive at the Mughal Garden in the Parliament House, where he planted sapling of magnolia grandiflora.

Regarding the opposition’s stance on the legitimacy of Parliament, the NA speaker responded: “The opposition calls this Parliament ‘fake’, but if so is the case, is it justified for the opposition leader, chairman Public Accounts Committee, and chairpersons of standing committees to receive salaries and benefits”.

Sadiq said the Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan delivered a speech lasting one hour and 21 minutes during current session, however, after the speech, he went outside and told the media they were not given a chance to speak. “Isn’t this a contradiction,” he questioned.

He pointed out that the opposition members used to enter the House for merely 10 minutes, they resort to protests, and then leave. “They seem to have no genuine interest in addressing public issues,” he said.

The NA speaker said he will present complete record of the questions and calling attention notices submitted by the opposition in the House regarding public-related issues. He emphasised that laws of procedure and parliamentary traditions would be followed during the proceedings of the House.

He noted that issues such as production orders and the treatment of prisoners in sub-jails must be handled in line with longstanding parliamentary norms.

He expressed concern over the opposition’s “neglect” in addressing public issues, which, he said, undermined the essence of democratic debate and responsibility.

Sadiq further said despite official correspondence from the National Assembly Secretariat on February 19, the opposition had so far not nominated names for chief election commissioner.

Earlier, the NA speaker said tree plantation on a national scale was essential for addressing and mitigating the challenges posed by climate change.

He lauded the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for its goal of planting 1 million trees in Islamabad, acknowledging the initiative as a significant step toward environmental preservation.

He also lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team’s efforts for the initiative to plant 10 million trees, which he called a pivotal effort for securing the country’s future.

The NA speaker also announced plans to transform Parliament into a “Green Parliament”.