Imran Khan nominates Mahmood Achakzai as NA opposition leader, Swati for Senate
Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan has nominated Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the post of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said on Wednesday.
“Raja mentioned that Azam Khan Swati has been appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.” He mentioned that Imran requested five names to choose his nominee for the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly.
The announcement follows the Election Commission of Pakistan’s disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan as the NA opposition leader and Shibli Faraz from the same position in the Senate, as well as other opposition MNAs and MPAs, due to their convictions in the May 9 cases. Both opposition leaders from PTI were officially dismissed from their roles on August 8.
Speaking to journalists outside the Supreme Court, Raja mentioned that Imran had put forward Achakzai, who presently heads the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), to succeed Ayub.
“The founder of PTI has assigned the issue of by-elections [for seats vacated following the recent convictions of lawmakers in May 9 cases] to the party’s political committee,” he stated.
“A political committee convening is scheduled for later today, during which a decision will be reached on this matter.”