Imran’s urgency to appoint new opposition leaders puzzles many within PTI

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been left puzzled after jailed party founder Imran Khan unexpectedly directed the appointment of new Leaders of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Senate even though the party was optimistic about imminent relief from the courts in the deseating cases of Omar Ayub Khan and Shibli Faraz.

The sudden instruction - naming Mahmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Allama Abbas Nasir in the Senate - from Adiala Jail has raised questions within PTI circles over what prompted such urgency at a time when most leaders believed a legal reversal of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision was a viable option.

The ECP had unseated Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz following their convictions in the May 9 cases. Since then, the party’s legal team had challenged the commission’s decision in the court and, according to senior PTI leaders, was “hopeful of a favourable verdict.” Many PTI lawmakers believed that once the courts reversed the decision, Ayub and Faraz would automatically be restored to their positions, rendering new appointments unnecessary.

Sources within PTI told The News that party leaders had earlier approached Imran Khan in jail to persuade him to postpone the appointments until the legal process was exhausted. Khan initially remained silent on the matter, fueling the belief that he had agreed to the suggestion. However, after weeks of no movement, Khan has now again reiterated his original decision, directing the party to proceed with new appointments immediately - a move that caught many by surprise.

The reasons behind the sudden urgency remain unclear. Party insiders and analysts, however, point to a few possible motivations. “It seems the leadership fears that delays could cost the party strategically and that Achakzai and Allama could help create an effective opposition alliance,” said a senior PTI lawmaker.

Another interpretation is that Khan is sending a strong message that PTI will not keep its parliamentary strategy hostage to legal uncertainties. “By moving ahead with new appointments, Khan is demonstrating that the party will continue its political manoeuvring regardless of judicial outcomes,” a source observed.

Still, the decision has deepened unease within PTI’s parliamentary party, where many still view it as premature and potentially unnecessary if the courts rule in the party’s favour. “We were expecting the ECP’s decision to be overturned any day now,” a senior PTI leader said. “Why is to create internal friction and confusion by rushing into new appointments?” The founder chairman knew very well the reservations of his party about the appointment of non-PTI MPs as leader of opposition in both the houses. In view of Imran Khan’s direction, the PTI parliamentary party is expected to do what Khan wishes but there are still divisions within PTI on the issue.