Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has nominated opposition alliance chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. According to reports, Imran Khan informed visitors at Adiala Jail about the nomination. He also directed further consultations on the Senate opposition leader slot, where PTI’s Azam Swati remains the strongest contender so far.

 Earlier, PTI’s Omar Ayub lost his position as opposition leader in the National Assembly following his conviction in the May 9 cases by an Anti-Terrorism Court. He was also removed from the Public Accounts Committee and all standing committees. Subsequently, the Election Commission issued disqualification notifications for Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, a decision both leaders have challenged in the Peshawar High Court.  

The disqualification was executed under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, which bars individuals from Parliament if convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude. The ECP cited the ATC Faisalabad’s verdict in its notification, noting that the concerned members had been convicted in connection with the May 9 violence cases. The court had sentenced each of them to prison terms of up to 10 years. 

The ruling came just days after the ATC announced its decision in three separate cases related to the May 9 incidents, which involved protests and violence following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)