ISLAMABAD: The opposition Tuesday formally furnished an application with the office of the National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, carrying signatures of 74 MNAs for nomination of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as their leader in the House.
PTI leader and National Assembly ex-speaker Asad Qaiser and chief whip Malik Aamir Dogar submitted an application to the office of the speaker. Achakzai, who also heads the opposition parties alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan and is chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, was elected MNA from NA-266.
“The office of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly is presently vacant. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, the leader of the opposition is to be appointed from amongst the Members of the House who belong to the opposition and who commands the confidence of the majority of the members sitting on the opposition benches,” reads the application, a copy of which is available with The News.
It reads, “… we hereby affirm that Mr. Mehmood Khan Achakzai enjoys the confidence and support of the majority of the members belonging to the opposition,and is, therefore, the most suitable person to hold this constitutional office. The timely appointment of the leader of the opposition will ensure the effective discharge of constitutional and parliamentary responsibilities entrusted to the opposition.”
Later, talking to the media, PTI leaders and members of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Aamir Dogar, Prince Nawaz Khan Alai and Shahram Tarakai announced that they had formally submitted a request for the appointment of Achakzai as the leader of the opposition.
Asad Qaiser said the position of the opposition leader had been vacant following the disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan, and PTI has now officially nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai for the slot. He expressed the hope that upon his return to the country, the speaker would issue the notification without delay.
He was hopeful that no undemocratic means would be employed in the process and that the opposition leader’s seat should not remain vacant. He pointed out that consultations with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) were underway, as the chief whip had been tasked with contacting JUI leadership to ensure greater coordination among the opposition parties for promotion of democratic values.
Criticising the federal government, Qaiser alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police had been provided with ‘non-functional’ vehicles. “Even a federal minister acknowledged this issue, but I do not wish to name him,” he claimed.
Chief Whip Aamir Dogar said the nomination of Achakzai had been submitted with the signatures of 74 members of the National Assembly. “Achakzai’s name carries significance for the survival and stability of democracy.
The decision reflects the consensus of our leadership, and all members have endorsed it,” he said. Dogar recalled that Achakzai was also PTI’s candidate for the presidency, enjoying the party’s full support.