ISLAMABAD: The prolonged and contentious delay in appointing the opposition leader in National Assembly is expected to dominate Monday’s session, with the opposition PTI warning that it will bring House proceedings to a standstill if there is any further delay in issuing the notification for its nominee, Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
Sources within the National Assembly Secretariat told Business Recorder that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq will make a decision on the matter following a meeting with senior government and PTI leaders, provided that legal obstacles surrounding the issue are cleared.
Last week, PTI’s Chief Whip in the NA, Malik Aamir Dogar, submitted a copy of the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) ruling dismissing a petition that had challenged the disqualification of Omar Ayub as opposition leader. This cleared the way for the formal appointment of a new opposition leader.
The controversy, which has been brewing for months, underscores the broader political struggle between the government and the opposition PTI.
Despite ongoing disputes, sources said that progress is being made. The NA Speaker is expected to verify the signatures of opposition members before moving ahead of Monday’s session.
Once this step is completed, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs will send a summary to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval, which will then be forwarded to Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Afterward, the NA Secretariat will issue an official notification confirming the appointment of a new opposition leader, clearing the way for Achakzai to assume the role – just as PTI leader Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, has tasked him with leading from the front.
What was once a simple procedural step has now become a political battleground. As the leading opposition party, PTI is keen to secure the position, especially after recent legal victories that have bolstered its position.
However, political dynamics remain fluid. Last-minute changes could still shift the outcome, with some PTI members expressing scepticism. They said that the real hurdle does not lie with the NA Speaker but with the powers that be, who are calling the shots behind the scenes.
Alongside the opposition leader’s appointment, the session will also address a range of important legislative matters, including a much-anticipated question hour. Opposition members are expected to raise issues related to governance failures and mismanagement in key sectors.
The session is also set to witness intense debate over the continued visitation restrictions on jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
Sources within PTI have confirmed that the party plans to stage strong protests inside the NA over restrictions on visits to Imran Khan by his family, legal team, and party leaders.
The opposition party is also set to raise the issue of the recent water cannon attack on Khan’s sisters and PTI workers outside Adiala Jail, condemning the police action as excessive and unwarranted.
Additionally, PTI is planning to confront the government over the crackdown on convoys and PTI workers from Punjab during Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s recent visit to Lahore.
The party will also take aim at the heavy-handed police crackdown on Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s team during their visit to Lahore, as it accuses the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of wielding state power to crush opposition.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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