ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly Secretariat has responded to MNA Amir Dogar’s letter on the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition, stating that no proposal or recommendation can be processed before the Speaker formally announces the schedule.
According to a spokesman, the response refers to Rules 39 and 39-B of the Rules of Procedure and Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, which provide the complete process for submitting nominations and declaring the Leader of the Opposition.
Under Rule 39(2), the Speaker is responsible for announcing the date, time and place where members of the National Assembly can submit duly signed motions. The spokesman added that parliamentary tradition requires the announcement to be made on the floor of the House, ensuring that all members have an equal opportunity to propose a candidate.
Since the Speaker has not yet made this announcement, no request or proposal can be accommodated at this time. The Secretariat will only proceed after the official declaration has been made in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.
The reply also refers to the recent Constitutional Court of Pakistan Supreme Court order dated 29 October 2025 in Omer Ayub’s plea. The court set aside the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) earlier stay of the writ petitions and directed the high court to decide whether they were maintainable and dispose of them accordingly.
The spokesman confirmed that the case of the disqualification of former opposition leader Omar Ayub is still under the jurisdiction of the PHC and any appointment process for the leader of the opposition will only be carried out after legal clarity and the speaker’s formal announcement.
