The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday finalized Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as the leaders of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively.
According to local media, members of the PTI’s parliamentary endorsed the nominations, with party MNAs backing Achakzai and senators Abbas. Both seats had fallen vacant after the PTI’s Omar Ayub Khan and Shibli Faraz were disqualified from holding office following their convictions in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots. Both leaders’ names would now be submitted to the NA and Senate Secretariat.
The PTI had initially decided to wait on resolution of the appeals of Ayub and Faraz, but with the litigation still pending, the party has decided to appoint their replacements.
According to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, former Prime Minister Imran Khan proposed the names of both Achakzai and Abbas for the opposition roles. He said the process for their nominations had now begun. “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,” he said.