Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the new Opposition Leader in the National Assembly. He also nominated Azam Swati as Opposition Leader in the Senate.
PTI Confirms New Appointments
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed the decision while speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court. He said Imran Khan replaced Umar Ayub with Achakzai in the National Assembly. He added that Azam Swati was nominated in place of Shibli Faraz in the Senate.
Raja said Khan left the decision on by-elections to the PTI political committee. The committee will meet today to decide whether PTI will contest upcoming by-elections across the country.
Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly
According to Raja, Imran Khan also asked for five names for the position of Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly. Khan will personally select one candidate from the list and nominate him.
Background of Disqualification
The decision came after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified several lawmakers on August 5. The ECP issued a notification de-seating nine members, including Umar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, after their convictions in cases linked to the May 9 riots.
The disqualified lawmakers included one senator, five MNAs, and three Punjab Assembly members. The ECP declared their seats vacant.
Among those disqualified were Shibli Faraz, Umar Ayub, Hamid Raza, Rai Haider, Rai Hassan, Rai Murtaza, Zartaj Gul, Ansar Iqbal, and Junaid Afzal.
An anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad sentenced Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, and 193 other PTI leaders and workers to 10 years in prison in three May 9 cases. The verdict triggered the reshuffle in PTI’s parliamentary leadership.
Political Significance
Analysts say Imran Khan’s decision strengthens the role of allied leaders like Achakzai within PTI’s political strategy. The move also signals Khan’s intent to reorganize opposition ranks after major disqualifications.
