ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat on Monday categorically denied reports suggesting that Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was prevented or obstructed by an Indian delegation from attending the funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. In a clarification, the National Assembly spokesperson said that certain sections of the media had misinterpreted an informal discussion between the speaker and journalists, leading to inaccurate reporting. The spokesperson stressed that the Speaker neither stated nor implied at any point that he had faced obstruction from the Indian delegation.
The Secretariat further clarified that during the visit, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq travelled to the funeral site in the same bus with other international delegations, including Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. Upon arrival, the speaker joined the Bangladeshi public in offering funeral prayers.
The spokesperson stressed that no untoward incident occurred during the visit and that the speaker’s participation in the funeral proceedings remained uninterrupted and without restriction.
Separately, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq described his recent handshake with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as “surprising”, while briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his recent visit to Dhaka.
The interaction, which took place in Dhaka ahead of the last rites of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, marked a rare direct contact with an Indian minister since the conflict in May 2025.
The NA speaker met PM Shehbaz at the National Assembly on Monday to provide a detailed account of his diplomatic trip to Bangladesh. He described the visit as “extremely constructive and positive,” noting that his meetings with Bangladeshi leaders, including the chief adviser, senior ministers, and other officials, had been “highly pleasant and productive.”
Sadiq also briefed the premier on his meetings with Khaleda Zia’s family, including her son and other close relatives, emphasising the cordial nature of these interactions.
In addition, he recounted the unusual moment when Indian FM Jaishankar personally approached him, introduced himself, and shook his hand, a gesture Sadiq said was “well-prepared and carefully planned.”
PM Shehbaz congratulated the NA speaker on the success of his Bangladesh visit and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in all fields. He emphasised the importance of promoting parliamentary links with Dhaka, describing such engagements as “essential for long-term cooperation.”
India initiated its first high-level contact with Pakistan since the 87-hour war between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May, as two senior officials from both countries met in Bangladesh last week.
“He knew exactly what he was doing and that it would be covered by the media,” Sadiq had said in a separate conversation about the interaction. Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, the National Assembly speaker said that he sensed all eyes in the room were focused on the interaction. He described Jaishankar as a shrewd politician who understood the significance and optics of the moment. The encounter with Jaishankar is particularly significant given the recent tense history between the two countries.
