PTI's Ali Zafar says Senate chairman has decided on Raja Nasir Abbas as opposition leader

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar on Monday said that Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided on Allama Raja Nasir Abbas's appointment as the opposition leader in Parliament's upper house and the process for it had begun.

Speaking to the media in Parliament House, Zafar said the Senate chairman was reminded during a meeting that he had previously stated he was consulting with the National Assembly speaker regarding the issuance of a notification for the opposition leader in the upper house.

Since NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had decided and appointed Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the NA opposition leader, Zafar said Gilani was also requested to announce PTI's nominee for the Senate opposition leader.

"This house is not complete without the leader of the opposition. The chairman consulted the law minister and said: 'I have made my decision and that is that the leader of the opposition you requested ... we will announce Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as the opposition leader and the process for that has begun. The secretariat will issue the notification for it."

Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that he was informed that the notification for the Senate opposition leader would likely be issued today or tomorrow.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Barrister Gohar mentioned that the PTI founder had nominated Achakzai and Allama Abbas for the position of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, and it would be ideal if both nominations were approved.

Questioned if the opposition leader’s notification was issued at the alleged behest of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, as claimed by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl, Barrister Gohar replied, “The notification for the opposition leader is at the discretion of the speaker, and it was issued accordingly. Our effort was to have the notification issued, and whoever facilitated it, it worked out well. In my opinion, the notification was issued by the speaker of the National Assembly, and we are thankful to them.”

Last week, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah had said that he expected progress on the Senate opposition leader's appointment by this week following the Achakzai's appointment as the opposition leader in the National Assembly.

In October last year, the PTI had nominated Achakzai and Allama Abbas as its candidates for the positions of the NA and Senate opposition leaders, respectively.

Following months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the position last week after Sadiq issued his notification.