Mahmood Khan Achakzai emerges as sole candidate for NA opposition leader

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed lawmaker Mahmood Khan Achakzai is set to become the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly after emerging as the sole candidate for the slot, with no rival nominations filed before the deadline, parliamentary sources said on Tuesday.

PTI-backed independent members submitted Achakzai’s nomination papers, the sources said, adding that signatures of lawmakers supporting his candidacy would be verified on Wednesday, after which a formal notification is expected to be issued.

Sources said Achakzai is the unanimous choice of the united opposition. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has assured opposition lawmakers that the appointment will be made after completion of all legal formalities.

A PTI delegation comprising party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, former speaker Asad Qaiser and Chief Whip Malik Aamir Dogar earlier submitted the required documents to the Speaker’s Office.

Dogar said the updated list of opposition lawmakers supporting Achakzai had been submitted in line with directives of the Supreme Court and the National Assembly.

“It is the speaker’s prerogative to issue the notification,” Qaiser told reporters. “We have fulfilled all requirements and hope there will be no further delay.”

He said only one nomination had been filed so far. “Once the opposition leader is appointed in the National Assembly, the appointment in the Senate will also follow,” he added.

Gohar told reporters outside the Speaker’s Office that the appointment was expected by Thursday. “We have submitted the papers and verification will be completed by tomorrow,” he said, adding that there was no forward bloc within PTI.

“Imran Khan was, is and will remain our chairman. No political or apex committee can change his decision,” Gohar said.

He added that all objections to the nomination had been addressed. “The signatures will be verified by tomorrow and our opposition leader will be announced on Thursday. No one else has submitted nomination papers,” he said.

In a letter to Speaker Sadiq, Dogar said a majority of opposition lawmakers had unanimously nominated Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition and called for an immediate notification under Rule 39 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct, 2007.