Says the appointment process is underway; Barrister Gohar says the notice should be issued today or tomorrow
TTAP Deputy Chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas addresses the media with Alliance Chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai after arriving in Lahore on January 8, 2026. SCREEN GROUP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar said on Monday that Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided the appointment of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as Leader of Opposition in the Upper House of Parliament and the process for it had begun.
Speaking to the media at the Parliament House, Zafar said the Senate President was reminded during a meeting that he had earlier stated that he consulted the Speaker of the National Assembly on the issuance of a notice to the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House.
Since NA Chairman Ayaz Sadiq had decided and appointed Mahmood Khan Achakzai as NA’s Leader of Opposition, Zafar said Gilani was also asked to announce PTI’s candidate for Senate Opposition Leader.
“This house is not complete without the Leader of the Opposition. The Speaker consulted with the Law Minister and said, ‘I have taken my decision and that is that the Leader of the Opposition you requested…we will announce Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as the Leader of the Opposition and the process for that has begun. The Secretariat will issue the notification for that.’
Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said he was informed that the notice to the Senate Opposition Leader was likely to be issued today or tomorrow.
Addressing the media outside the Supreme Court, Barrister Gohar mentioned that the PTI founder had nominated Achakzai and Allama Abbas for the post of Leaders of Opposition in the National Assembly and Senate and it would be ideal if both the nominations were approved.
Asked if the Leader of the Opposition’s notice was issued at the alleged behest of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, as claimed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl, Barrister Gohar replied, “The notice to the Leader of the Opposition is at the speaker’s discretion and it was issued accordingly. Our effort was to get it, and not it, succeeded. the notice was issued by the Speaker of the National Assembly and we are them grateful.”
Last week, the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah had said he expected progress on the Senate opposition leader’s appointment this week following Achakzai’s appointment as opposition leader in the National Assembly.
In October last year, PTI had nominated Achakzai and Allama Abbas as its candidates for the posts of NA and Senate Opposition Leaders respectively.
After months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the post last week after Sadiq issued his announcement.
