ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has filed a reference against Justice Asif Saeed Khosa in Supreme Judicial Council for calling him Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's loyalist.

As per the reference, the speaker has objected over Justice Khosa's remarks made in the April 20 judgment over the Panama case. Sadiq has stated the remarks reflected the judge's bias as none from the bench passed any such statements.

The reference, documents of which are available with Geo News, quotes the April 20 judgment, stating Justice Khosa attributed failure on the part of the speaker to enquire into or investigate the matter or to refer the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan against Nawaz...

Moreover, the reference adds, the speaker was elected by majority vote of the House comprising members from both the treasury and opposition benches. Therefore, it reads, to call the speaker a nominee or loyalist of the prime minister was a misstatement and contrary to the facts.

In his reference, Sadiq has written that the comments were only made by Justice Khosa and no one else from the bench. "This clearly smacks of personal grudge or bias of the honourable judge."   

However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Talal Chaudhry has said no such complaint has been filed yet.