Pakistan, July 4 -- National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has stepped away from the controversy surrounding the recent salary hike for top parliamentary officials, stating that the matter should be decided by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a letter addressed to the premier, Sadiq expressed no interest in the pay raise and made it clear that he is not involved in the process.

The move came after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif harshly criticised the salary hike, calling it "financial obscenity" in light of the public's ongoing economic struggles. He urged lawmakers to consider the hardships faced by ordinary citizens before accepting such privileges.

Ayaz Sadiq stated in his letter, "No matter if my salary is not increased. I have nothin...