NA speaker urges govt, opposition to sit together on CEC appointment for political stability
ISLAMABAD: As the issue of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan’s treatment in a hospital dominated the proceedings of the National Assembly on Friday, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq urged the government and opposition to first sit together on the appointment of the chief election commissioner, whose term is due to expire, so that the country could move towards political stability and harmony. The Supreme…
On Friday, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq called upon the government and opposition to collaborate on appointing the chief election commissioner, urging it as a first step towards political stability. The Supreme Court had ordered former PTI leader Imran Khan to be moved to Shifa International Hospital, but the government opted to relocate him to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) without his personal physician.
Subsequently, Imran was returned to Adiala jail, sparking criticism from his family, party, and supporters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had invited the opposition for dialogue, which was met with approval from the opposition. Speaker Sadiq believed it was time for both sides to come together on the chief election commissioner appointment, as a starting point for dialogue. According to the Constitution, the opposition leader's consent is necessary for names proposed by the government for the chief election commissioner position.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Imran Khan was in "good health," and urged the PTI not to politicize his health concerns. He noted that Imran's sister had visited him in jail and could attest to his health, while his personal physician had been granted access to health-related information. Asif emphasized that reported health issues were minor and attributed to age, adding that Imran was recovering and reports would soon be made public.
Asif pleaded for the PTI to refrain from using health issues as a political weapon and criticized past leaders for being mocked for genuine health concerns. He urged political leaders to maintain consistency and avoid exploiting health-related matters for political gain. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan addressed the issue, stating that the party had instructed its workers and supporters not to visit Shifa International Hospital or create disturbances.
He stressed the need for all parties to address the matter in the interest of democracy and democracy, expressing appreciation for PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's support for the PTI founder's medical treatment.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
