Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah. Photo: APP/ File
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that he expected progress on the appointment of the Senate Opposition Leader next week following the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
In October last year, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had nominated Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as its candidates for the posts of NA and Senate Opposition Leaders respectively.
After months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the post today after NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq issued his announcement. However, a decision on the Senate’s opposition leader has not yet been made.
Speaking in an interview regarding Naya Pakistan on a private news broadcaster, Sanaullah said the NA speaker completed the required process and issued the notification to appoint Achakzai after seeking the opinion of the opposition members.
“There is now no obstruction left in the Senate [process] likewise. I think as soon as the Senate President … returns next week, I will think about this process [of the Senate opposition leader’s appointment] will be done.”
When asked about PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s remarks that Achakzai’s appointment would be taken as a confidence-building measure, Sanaullah termed the statement positive.
He said opposition members should play their “full role” in Parliament and suggested that those who had distanced themselves from standing committees should return to the floor of the assembly and also participate in committee proceedings.
Responding to an allegation by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl leader Kamran Murtaza that Achakzai had allegedly contacted PML-N President Nawaz Sharif for his intervention to enable the issuance of the notice, Sanaullah said he was unaware of any such contact.
However, he added that it was not possible that Chairman Sadiq would have taken such a decision without taking his party leadership and the Prime Minister into confidence.
Sanaullah said the government remained in touch with the PTI leadership, including Achakzai, but noted that a hostile environment within the party’s ranks limited the publicity of such contacts.
He said there was a “verbal abuse brigade” within the PTI targeting people perceived to be committed to the government, which is why such engagements were not openly highlighted, although contact with party members continued.
Sanaullah said several PTI leaders believed that solutions could only emerge through parliament and dialogue, adding that political parties should sit together as earlier discussions had eased matters and helped find a way forward.
However, he said that PTI founder Imran Khan was not in favor of dialogue. He added that while the PTI leaders wanted talks, they themselves said that Imran did not support talks. “When PTI members meet us they also say that he is not ready but if they get an opportunity they can persuade him,” he added.
Sanaullah clarified that any such willingness could emerge only after February 8, referring to the planned nationwide protest by the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan on that date.
