ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced Wednesday that party founder Imran Khan has nominated new opposition leaders for both houses of parliament, selecting figures from both within and outside the party ranks.
According to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, the imprisoned former prime minister has chosen Mahmood Khan Achakzai to serve as opposition leader in the National Assembly, while veteran party member Azam Swati will take the corresponding role in the Senate.
Strategic Appointments Amid Legal Challenges
Achakzai, who heads the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and leads the PTI-allied opposition coalition Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, represents a notable choice given his position outside PTI’s direct membership. The Balochistan politician has built a reputation for his critical stance toward Pakistan’s military establishment.
Should the appointment proceed as planned, this would mark Achakzai’s first time leading parliamentary opposition in the lower house.
Meanwhile, Swati brings extensive party experience, having joined PTI prior to the 2013 general elections. His recent history includes detention and alleged mistreatment over social media posts critical of former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. He also faced internal party scrutiny following questions about his role in the abrupt cancellation of a PTI gathering in Tarnol last year.
Punjab Assembly Leadership Under Consideration
For the Punjab Assembly opposition leadership, Khan has requested five candidate names from the parliamentary party before making his final decision. This selection process comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified several key PTI figures, including National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Senate leader Shibli Faraz, and Punjab opposition leader Malik Ahmad Bhachar, following their convictions related to May 9 incidents.
Communications from Custody
The nominations were communicated through party lawyer Ali Bukhari during a meeting with Khan at Adiala jail. Sources indicate that Khan described extremely challenging detention conditions, including restricted access to reading materials, media, and medical care that allegedly violates standard jail protocols.
During the same consultation, Khan directed the party’s public committee to immediately convene and decide whether to participate in upcoming by-elections.
Political Context and Strategic Implications
This decision represents a reversal from PTI’s August 8 stance, when the party declared it would not nominate replacement opposition leaders following the removal of its previous parliamentary leadership. At that time, PTI indicated it would challenge the disqualifications through legal channels.
Political analysts had warned that leaving opposition leadership positions vacant would be strategically counterproductive, potentially allowing the government to consolidate parliamentary control and influence key constitutional appointments without meaningful oversight.
The move also comes as former opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan had planned to file contempt proceedings, arguing that his seat’s vacation violated a Peshawar High Court order that had restrained the Election Commission from proceeding with his disqualification.
Under National Assembly regulations, the speaker must formally recognize the opposition leader from the party with the greatest numerical strength, following verification of member signatures supporting the nomination.
