National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Monday that the opposition has not made any formal contact to initiate dialogue with the government. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists, according to a handout issued by the National Assembly Secretariat.
Sadiq clarified that although there has been public discussion about possible negotiations, no official request has been conveyed so far. He reiterated that his role in any potential talks would be limited to that of a facilitator rather than a participant.
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Commenting on parliamentary affairs, the speaker said the committee system in the National Assembly was fully functional in line with constitutional requirements. He also stressed that he remained completely independent in discharging his responsibilities as speaker.
پارلیمنٹ ہاؤس میں اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق کی صحافیوں سے غیر رسمی گفتگو
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کی ہدایت پر پاکستان کی نمائندگی کے لیے بنگلہ دیش کا دورہ کیا، اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی۔
سابق وزیرِاعظم بنگلہ دیش خالدہ ضیا کی نمازِ جنازہ میں عام عوام کےساتھ شرکت کی، اسپیکر قومی… pic.twitter.com/cME5xvdhOI
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) January 5, 2026
On the issue of appointing a new leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Sadiq said that four letters had been sent to the opposition’s chief whip. He added that following the fourth letter, the opposition submitted a certified copy of its decision.
Sadiq stated that the constitutional process for appointing the next opposition leader would begin in the upcoming parliamentary session. He said the process would proceed after verification and scrutiny of the signatures of opposition members.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had renewed his offer for talks with the opposition, while maintaining that dialogue should focus on legitimate issues. Separately, leaders from across the political spectrum have called for dialogue and restraint to help restore political stability.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf later announced it would not engage in talks with the federal government, citing directives from party founder Imran Khan. Meanwhile, government representatives have continued to stress the importance of confidence-building measures.
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During the interactionSadiq also spoke about his recent visit to Bangladesh for the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. He recalled meeting Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus and noted a warm reception for the Pakistani delegation.
He also mentioned briefly greeting India’s external affairs minister during the visit, describing it as a notable diplomatic moment. Sadiq said he would remember the goodwill shown by the people of Bangladesh.