Mahmood Khan Achakzai appointed opposition leader in National Assembly

PTI chairman confirmed issuance of notification, saying this was rightful claim and that right has been received

Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai was formally appointed as the opposition leader in the National Assembly on Friday, finally filling a post that had remained vacant since August 7.

NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Chief Whip of the Opposition Aamir Dogar to his chamber to collect the official notification before handing it over to the former.

Notification announcing Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as opposition leader in the National Assembly Photo: Express

Gohar also confirmed that the notification appointing Achakzai as the opposition leader was issued.

Speaking to the media, he said the post had remained vacant since August 7, adding that the required legal and parliamentary formalities were now completed.

He said the PTI had initially approached the court over the delay but later withdrew the case after fulfilling all procedural requirements. “We completed all formalities and submitted the required documents for the notification. On the basis of 76 MNAs, we had placed all documents before the speaker,” he said.

محمود خان اچکزئی کو مبارکباد دیتا ہوں،محمود خان اچکزئی کے فارم پر ہم سب نے سائن کیئے،محمود خان اچکزئی آج لیڈر آف اپوزیشن منتخب ہوگئے،بیرسٹر گوہر

بولے پارٹی میں کوئی دو رائے نہیں pic.twitter.com/Up92wX3GYI

— Ahsan Wahid (@AhsanWahid13) January 16, 2026

He said the notification was expected a day earlier but could not be issued due to “certain unavoidable reasons”. “The speaker called us to the assembly today and finally the notification for Mahmood Khan Achakzai has been issued,” he added.

Terming the development a positive step, the PTI chairman said, “This was our rightful claim, and we have received that right.”

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja termed the development a source of happiness and satisfaction for every party member.

بانی چیئرمین عمران خان صاحب کی خواہش کے مطابق مشر محمود خان اچکزئی صاحب کا قومی اسمبلی میں قائد حزب اختلاف تقرر پی ٹی آئی کے ہر رکن کیلئے باعث مسرت و اطمینان ہے۔ جمہوریت اور آئین کی بحالی کی جدو جہد اچکزئی صاحب اور علامہ ناصر کی رہنمائی میں اللہ تعالیٰ کی رضا سے جلد کامیاب ہو گی۔

— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) January 16, 2026

He added that the struggle for the restoration of democracy and the Constitution would soon succeed under the guidance of the PTI's nominees for the Senate and NA opposition leaders.

Heartiest congratulations to Mahmud Khan Achakzai sahib who has been officially declared as the 'Leader of the Opposition National Assembly'.
It is a great singular honour and Mahmud Khan Ackhakzai sahib will InshahAllah fulfill his responsibilities brilliantly. @PTIofficial

— Omar Ayub Khan (@OmarAyubKhan) January 16, 2026

PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan, whom Achakzai has succeeded, also congratulated him in a message on X. “It is a great singular honour, and God willing Mahmood Khan Achakzai will fulfil his responsibilities brilliantly,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that no other candidate filed nomination papers, leaving Achakzai – who also heads the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin Pakistan (TTAP) – as the sole nominee after the deadline for submitting nominations closed on Tuesday.

Independent lawmakers backed by PTI submitted their nomination documents in his favour. Verification of the signatures on the nomination papers took place on Wednesday.

Read: Achakzai set to become opposition leader as NA nominations close

The development follows a letter sent by Dogar to Speaker Sadiq earlier in the day. The letter said the opposition majority had unanimously nominated Achakzai as their leader.

It stressed that, under democratic traditions, the opposition had the right to elect its leader and urged the speaker to issue the notification immediately in line with Rule 39 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct, 2007.

Rule 39 states that the leader of the opposition must be chosen from among members of the House belonging to the opposition who command the confidence of the majority of opposition lawmakers.

Read more: Speaker sets opp leader appointment process in motion

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl Senator Kamran Murtaza has claimed that Achakzai’s appointment was facilitated by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He alleged that Achakzai had directly contacted Nawaz, who then ensured the issuance of the notification, partly to vent his own political frustration.

The senator said the move could lay the groundwork for a broader Charter of Democracy in the coming days. He also called for the appointment of an opposition leader in the Senate. He added that Achakzai was also the opposition leader of the JUI-F, and that the party had itself demanded his appointment.

Earlier, a PTI delegation concluded a meeting with the NA speaker. The delegation included Barrister Gohar, Asad Qaiser and Dogar, who described the talks as constructive.

“We addressed all concerns, and there are no objections regarding the submitted nomination papers,” Barrister Gohar said. He added that the verification of signatures would be completed by Wednesday, and the opposition leader would be formally announced thereafter.

He also said that the NA would have its own opposition leader during Friday’s session, noting that no other nominations had been submitted. “There were no discussions in the Speaker’s office regarding negotiations,” he added.

Speaker Sadiq had initiated the process for appointing the leader of the opposition in accordance with parliamentary rules on Monday, directing opposition lawmakers to submit their nominations by 3pm on Tuesday.

Also read: NA seeks probe into offloading of passengers at airports

He had also asked opposition parties to resubmit a signed list of members to the Speaker’s Office after fixing a fresh date for the process.