US lawmakers didn’t mention Imran Khan, says Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker

Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said Tuesday that visiting U.S. lawmakers did not bring up the name of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan during meetings in Islamabad.

Speaking to the media, Sadiq said, “The three American members of Congress said they have nothing to do with the internal politics of Pakistan.”

He added that during the American delegation’s visit, he invited Barrister Gohar and Aamir Dogar to dinner. However, he clarified that PTI members Atif Khan and Dr. Amjad were not invited.

“This was an opportunity for PTI leaders to sit and talk to the Americans from whom they seek help,” Sadiq said, implying the absence was a missed chance for engagement.

The speaker accused the opposition of politicizing every issue, including the visit of the U.S. delegation. He said opposition lawmakers walked out of the National Assembly when the matter of canals was raised, despite over 30 members participating in the debate.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had presented the government's stance clearly, he added, noting that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) submitted a resolution on April 7, while the opposition submitted theirs on April 10.

“It is the government’s responsibility to maintain quorum,” Sadiq said. “The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs was informed several times about the need for quorum if legislation was to be passed.”

He added that production orders were issued for arrested opposition members and that Parliament Lodges were declared sub-jails — something the previous government did not do.

Sadiq emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve national issues. “I fully believe in talks,” he said. “Serious efforts have always been made.”

He stressed the importance of Question Hour, noting that no one was allowed to raise a point of order during that time to ensure focus on issues of public importance.

“The government and opposition are equally responsible for smooth functioning of the House,” he said, adding that he had sent a detailed letter documenting his concerns over the exclusion of opposition-submitted questions from the official agenda.

A spokesperson for the National Assembly also rejected PTI's claim that its leaders were not invited to meet the U.S. delegation. The Principal Secretary to the Speaker, Special Secretary for International Relations, and the Director General of Protocol contacted Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Malik Amir Dogar, who accepted the invitation but did not attend.

“Their claim that they were not invited is contrary to facts,” the spokesperson said.

A three-member U.S. congressional delegation, led by Congressman Tom Suozzi, arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a weeklong visit.

The delegation included Congressmen Jack Bergman, Tom Suozzi, and Jonathan Jackson. During the visit, the U.S. lawmakers met with Pakistan’s top political and military leadership.

Conference on Gaza

Sadiq also announced he will attend an upcoming conference on Gaza hosted by Turkey to highlight Pakistan’s stance.

“Just as we talk about Kashmir, we are talking about Palestine,” he said. “Children and women are being martyred in Palestine. The Muslim Ummah has not played the role it should have. The government and people of Pakistan stand with the Palestinian people.”

The National Assembly, convened under the chairmanship of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday, unanimously passed a resolution condemning Israeli aggression in Palestine.

The resolution, moved by Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, expressed full solidarity with the Palestinian people and paid tribute to the 60,000 Palestinians martyred by Israeli brutality.

Lawmakers strongly condemned Israeli bombings despite ceasefires and called the violence a failure of the international community. The resolution reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Palestine and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces.