Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has nominated Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief (PKMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Senator Azam Swati has been nominated as Leader of the Opposition in Senate, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja revealed on Wednesday.
The decision was taken in the wake of Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification disqualifying Omar Ayub as NA opposition leader and Shibli Faraz as Senate opposition leader following their conviction in May 9 cases. Besides Ayub and Faraz, scores of PTI MNAs and MPAs were also disqualified by ECP after their conviction in May 9 riot cases.
Talking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Raja said the PTI founder has sought a list of five names for the slot of Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly in a bid to pick the most suitable candidate.
It is pertinent to mention that Ayub and Faraz had moved the Peshawar High Court (PHC) following their disqualification by the ECP. In response to their pleas, the PHC stayed appointments of opposition leaders in National Assembly and Senate and sought reply from the ECP.
