Hopes for tensions between government and opposition to subside after notification issued
A photo of TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. SCREENGRAB
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday that he expected the National Assembly speaker to take a positive decision on the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the opposition leader in Friday’s session.
Speaking in an interview on Capital Talk on a private news broadcaster, the PML-N leader said: “The process initiated by the speaker has, according to my information, been completed today in Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s favour. There is a [NA] session tomorrow as well so hopefully, the speaker will announce his decision.”
Read: Achakzai set to become opposition leader as NA nominations close
PTI Chief Whip Malik Amir Dogar also endorsed the stance, saying he had completed his part of the process in his capacity as chief whip and only the formal notification for the NA opposition leader was now awaited.
Dogar said he would not be able to attend Friday’s session due to travelling to Karachi, where he is scheduled to attend a public meeting of the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan and participate in other activities. He added that he would return on Monday.
Sanaullah expressed hope that tensions between the government and the opposition would subside once the notification for the NA opposition leader was issued. He said opposition parties should reconsider their boycott of parliamentary standing committees and resume participation in parliamentary proceedings in accordance with the law and rules.
آخرکار محمود خان اچکزئی کو اپوزیشن لیڈر بنانے کے لئے نو ٹیفیکیشن تیار کر لیا گیا ہے لیکن ابھی جاری نہیں ہوا دراصل حکومت چاہتی ہے کہ اس نوٹیفیکیشن کے بعد اپوزیشن قائمہ کمیٹیوں میں واپس آ جائے لیکن اپوزیشن کہتی ہے یہ فیصلہ تو عمران خان کرینگے آپ پہلے ہماری خان سے ملاقات کرا دیں pic.twitter.com/8wDI1Zx9ej
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) January 15, 2026
“All issues can only be resolved through dialogue at the table of parliament and politicians,” he said, adding that discussions should also be held on the Charter of Democracy, the Charter of Economy and the prime minister’s offer of a Charter of Stability of Pakistan.
“If they sit down and talk, the solution will come from there. No solution will come from any wheel jam or from any other place,” he added.
For now, the opposition continues to await the notification for Achakzai’s appointment. On Tuesday, the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief submitted his nomination papers for the post after being formally nominated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Achakzai is set to assume the position unopposed, as no other candidate filed nomination papers. Independent lawmakers backed by PTI also submitted nomination documents in his favour.
On the same day, Dogar wrote to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, urging him to issue the notification immediately in line with Rule 39 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct, 2007.
Rule 39 states that the leader of the opposition must be chosen from among opposition members who command the confidence of the majority of opposition lawmakers.
