Islamabad — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has finalized its nominations for the roles of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, appointing Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the leader of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), as the new Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) head Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas for the same position in the Senate.
The decision was made during a meeting of PTI’s parliamentary committee on Monday. Both Achakzai and Abbas received widespread support from PTI lawmakers, with Members of National Assembly (MNAs) backing Achakzai’s nomination, while Senators endorsed Abbas for the upper house’s top opposition role.
Following the finalization of these names, PTI is expected to submit the nominations to the National Assembly and Senate Secretariat on Tuesday, completing the formal process.
The PTI had been compelled to appoint new opposition leaders after Omar Ayub, the previous Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, and Shibli Faraz, the former opposition leader in the Senate, were removed from their posts on August 9, following their convictions related to the May 9 events. Both Ayub and Faraz, along with several other PTI leaders, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with the aftermath of the May 9 protests, which were sparked by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case.
Salman Akram Raja, PTI’s Secretary General, confirmed that party founder Imran Khan personally endorsed the nominations of Achakzai and Abbas for these key parliamentary positions. Raja further noted that the party’s movement would proceed with renewed vigor, despite the ongoing legal challenges faced by several of its members, including Ayub and Faraz.
“Our movement will begin with a new zeal. Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz remain our leaders. They will assume their duties when their matters get sorted out in the courts,” Raja stated in an interview with Geo.tv.
PTI has faced significant legal and political challenges since the May 9 riots, which saw widespread protests across Pakistan following Khan’s arrest. While many PTI leaders and workers have been released on bail, some remain behind bars, and the party continues to grapple with its internal and external struggles.
Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in April 2022 following a no-confidence motion, has also been incarcerated since August 2023. Despite these setbacks, PTI remains a formidable force in Pakistani politics, with its newly appointed opposition leaders preparing to lead the party’s efforts in both houses of parliament.
