‘It feels like home’

Ayaz Sadiq, three others take oath as MNAs

Former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Friday was sworn in as an MNA following his victory during the October by-polls in Lahore’s NA-122 constituency.

Acting Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi administered the oath to the PML-N leader.

Sadiq was de-seated by an election tribunal in August which accepted Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s petition challenging the 2013 General Election result.

Sadiq had defeated Imran Khan during the 2013 polls, and reclaimed his seat by contesting against PTI’s Aleem Khan in the by-polls.

MNAs applauded the occasion by thumping their benches and gave him congratulatory hugs and handshakes.

Three other MNAs were also sworn in, including Riazul Haq Juj, former independent candidate and winner of the NA-144 Okara by-polls, who has now joined the ranks of the PML-N, Haripur’s NA-19 by-poll winner, PML-N’s Babar Nawaz and Dr Shazia Soomro who was elected to a reserved seat for women, according to a report on state television.

Upon Sadiq’s arrival, in a casual talk with the media he was asked about his protocol to which he maintained that his staff had worked with him for at least two and a half years.

“Returning to the Parliament feel like coming home,” Sadiq said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated Sadiq to contest for the NA Speaker while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to field Shafqat Mehmood’s name for the seat.