Imran calls for Sadiq's resignation over 'reference' against top judge

Ayaz Sadiq not fit to continue as National Assembly speaker: PTI chairman

Following a 'reference' against Supreme Court's Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and the subsequent denial by National Assembly speaker's office, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has called for Ayaz Sadiq's immediate resignation.

The complaint against the top court's judge was reportedly filed with the Supreme Judicial Council under Article 209 of the Constitution for questioning Sadiq's neutrality.

"Ayaz Sadiq had revealed his bias earlier and now it is clear he is not fit to occupy Office of Speaker NA. He must resign immediately," Imran tweeted.

Ayaz Sadiq had revealed his bias earlier & now it is clear he is not fit to occupy Office of Speaker NA. He must resign immediately. https://t.co/yy4f1qmgj2

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 19, 2017

Imran added, "Ayaz's comment that his Office is not an investigative agency begs the question how he forwarded reference against me and Jahangir Tareen while rejecting reference against Nawaz Sharif?"

Ayaz's comment that his Office is not an investigative agency begs the question how he forwarded ref ag me & JKT while rejecting ref ag NS? https://t.co/15AiQ1AbOY

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 19, 2017

The reference, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, read: "…unfortunately Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa in his judgement has attributed ‘the failure on the part of the Honourable Speaker to inquire into or investigate the matter or to refer the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan."

It went on to add that if Justice Khosa continued to be part of the top court, it would be ‘injurious’ to the judicial institution.

In its April 20 judgment, the top court had declared that Nawaz Sharif and his family failed to justify how they accumulated their offshore assets. The five-judge apex court bench hence ordered the formation of a joint investigation team to settle the saga that started with the Mossack Fonseka leaks just over a year ago.

Following the JIT investigation, the five-member bench on July 28 disqualified Nawaz from the PM’s office for failing to declare a salary, which he had not withdrawn as an executive of Dubai-based company, as an asset when filing his nomination papers in 2013.