After Months of Vacuum, Achakzai Named NA Opposition Leader

News Desk 

Islamabad: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Friday notified Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the new Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, filling the position that had remained vacant for several months.

According to a notification issued by Acting NA Secretary Saeed Ahmad Maitla, Achakzai was declared opposition leader with effect from January 16, 2026, under Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.

Achakzai, who also heads the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), was nominated for the post by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The position fell vacant after former opposition leader Omar Ayub was disqualified following his conviction and 10-year imprisonment in a May 9 case.

The notification was issued after a delegation of opposition lawmakers, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Junaid Akbar, Aamir Dogar, Shahram Khan Tarakai, Latif Khosa and Jamal Ahsan Khan, met Speaker Sadiq in his chamber.

Reacting to the development, PTI leader Omar Ayub congratulated Achakzai, calling his appointment a “great singular honour” and expressing confidence that he would fulfil his responsibilities effectively.

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Achakzai’s elevation is seen as significant amid Pakistan’s ongoing political impasse. He has repeatedly called for a national dialogue involving all political forces to steer the country out of crisis. PTI leaders have also stated that the party has authorised Achakzai, along with Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, to hold dialogue with the ruling coalition.

Senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Geo News that Imran Khan had given Achakzai the mandate to negotiate with the government, adding that he was best placed to decide the way forward.

The PTI has remained at odds with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) since Imran Khan’s removal through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022.

The party has staged multiple protests towards Islamabad, resulting in arrests and crackdowns, while several senior leaders, including Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid, remain incarcerated in connection with the May 9 incidents.

Earlier this month, PML-N Senator and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide Rana Sanaullah stressed the need for trust-building and sustained engagement among key political leaders, suggesting that a meeting among Pakistan’s top political figures was essential to break the deadlock.

However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar dismissed the proposal, saying there was neither a need nor a possibility for such a meeting. PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja also urged the government to clarify its stance on dialogue, maintaining that no meaningful talks could proceed without the participation of the PTI founder.