ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the National Assembly session on Monday, paving the way for the appointment of the leader of the opposition. The development follows the withdrawal of petitions by PTI’s Omar Ayub in the Supreme Court and high courts challenging his removal, which had previously delayed the process.
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Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is expected to formally ask the opposition to initiate the procedure for nominating a new leader. The opposition has repeatedly accused the government of delaying the appointment, and has nominated Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Achakzai for the post.
Under Rule 39 of the “Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007,” the speaker has the sole authority to ask the opposition to submit a name for approval. Once the opposition presents its candidate, the speaker must verify signatures of all opposition members supporting the nomination before declaring the leader.
The rule also requires that after each general election, or at any time thereafter, the National Assembly speaker must declare the opposition leader promptly following the election of the prime minister. In this instance, the opposition has already submitted Achakzai’s name to the speaker’s office, though not directly to the speaker.
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Political observers say the appointment could influence parliamentary proceedings, as the opposition leader plays a critical role in legislative debates, committee oversight, and government accountability. With the NA session now underway, the focus will be on whether the opposition and the speaker can swiftly complete the formalities to fill the long-vacant position.