Shibli Faraz appointed new opposition leader in Senate

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz was appointed as the new opposition leader in the Senate on Monday.

Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan had nominated Faraz for the slot last week, and he secured the role with the endorsement of 21 senators.

According to a notification from the Senate Secretariat, Faraz’s appointment was made under Rule 16 (3) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, Dawn.com reported.

Faraz, who has been a serving senator since 2015, previously held the position of information minister during the PTI government. Earlier this month, he was appointed as a focal person for the PTI.

Also read: Imran Khan removes Sher Afzal Marwat from focal persons team

His appointment follows a period of Senate inactivity lasting at least three weeks, caused by the retirement of 52 lawmakers on the night of March 12.

Elections to fill the vacant seats were held on April 2, resulting in the ruling coalition securing 19 seats. This was followed by the unopposed election of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani as the Senate chairman.

The election of the new chairman occurred during a session where 41 newly elected senators were sworn in, amid noisy protests by the PTI, which had boycotted the election due to ongoing polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.