PTI Presses for Mahmood Achakzai’s Appointment as Opposition Leader
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday renewed its demand for the immediate notification of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, asserting that all legal and procedural objections have now been resolved.
Speaking after meeting National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, PTI Chief Whip Aamir Dogar said the party had formally reiterated its request and clarified that no impediments remained to delay the appointment. He dismissed reports of informal or backchannel engagement with the speaker, stating that the interaction was official and transparent.
PTI was compelled to nominate new opposition leaders in both houses of parliament after Omar Ayub Khan and Shibli Faraz were removed from their respective positions in August following their convictions in the May 9 cases. Since then, the party has been pressing for Achakzai’s appointment in the lower house.
Dogar said the speaker was informed that all court cases linked to Omar Ayub Khan, which had previously been cited as a hurdle, had been withdrawn. According to PTI, this eliminated the final legal obstacle to moving forward with the appointment.
He emphasized that Achakzai’s nomination was made by the PTI founder and unanimously endorsed by the party, leaving no ambiguity over the legitimacy of the candidate. Dogar added that delays stemmed from repeated correspondence between the National Assembly Secretariat and PTI regarding procedural clarifications.
Addressing concerns over verification of lawmakers’ signatures, Dogar said PTI members were prepared to comply with any lawful requirement should the issue formally arise.
Separately, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the matter would be handled strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions, parliamentary rules, and legal requirements. He added that the process for appointing the opposition leader would be reinitiated and the House would be informed during the next session of the National Assembly.
Earlier this month, PTI submitted a detailed written response to the National Assembly Secretariat, urging the speaker to issue the notification without further delay. Dogar, accompanied by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other lawmakers, also met the Legislation Secretary to submit the required documents.
The National Assembly Secretariat had sought clarification on Omar Ayub Khan’s legal status multiple times, most recently on December 29, following earlier correspondence in November and December. PTI leaders have expressed optimism that the matter will be resolved following the speaker’s return from an official visit to Bangladesh.
