Senate opp leader calls for parliamentary wisdom

Senate chairman appoints Allama Raja Nasir Abbas; both sides welcome the move

ISLAMABAD:

Within days of the appointment of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, the process was also completed in the Senate on Tuesday, where Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas was officially notified for the post.

With leaders of the opposition now sitting in both the National Assembly and the Senate after a five-month gap, political analysts see the development as a "potential ice-breaker" between the treasury and opposition benches.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led opposition aims to use parliament to press its demands, while the ruling coalition hopes the appointments will prompt the opposition to move away from a strategy of agitation and disruption.

Abbas, a PTI-backed senator and vice chairman of Tehreek Tahafuz Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP), had been nominated for the position by incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan in August. Abbas secured 22 votes out of the 32 opposition members in the upper house.

"In pursuance of sub-rule (3) of Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the Chairman Senate has been pleased to declare Senator Raja Nasir Abbas as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, with immediate effect," said a notification issued by the Senate Secretariat.

The position of opposition leader in the Senate had remained vacant since August 2025, when the then incumbent, PTI's Shibli Faraz, was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following his conviction in cases related to the May 9, 2023 violence.

Faraz had challenged the ECP notification in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which initially granted a stay order, halting further action on his disqualification and the appointment of a new opposition leader.

Explaining the delay, Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani told the house that the appointment had been stalled due to procedural reasons, institutional prudence and deference to judicial authority and the rule of law.

During the session, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Nasir Butt raised questions over Abbas's party affiliation, noting that he was not a PTI member. "Whether the party [PTI] lacked an eligible candidate from within its own ranks," he asked.

Despite the objection, the chairman proceeded with the declaration and directed the Senate Secretariat to issue the notification immediately. PTI parliamentary leader Ali Zafar welcomed the decision and thanked the treasury benches for their support, describing it as a positive parliamentary gesture.

"This is how parliamentary behaviour should be. At the very least, we must preserve and uphold parliamentary authority and powers," he said. From the treasury benches, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah also welcomed the appointment.

In his maiden speech as the opposition leader, Raja Nasir Abbas credited Imran Khan for his presence in the house, describing himself as a "loyal companion" of Khan, who would never compromise on principles or his oath. He claimed Khan enjoyed 90% public support.

"The country cannot progress if you keep a popular leader in jail," Abbas said, stressing that resolution of Khan's cases and his release were the only solution to the political crisis. He also called for opposition access to what he termed "political prisoners" to restore stability.

Describing the Constitution as a sacred social contract, Abbas said it bound the pillars of the state to non-interference. Without adherence to the law, he warned, society risked descending into a "jungle" marked by lawlessness and erosion of public trust.

He said national strength stemmed from justice and unity, tracing political instability to alleged rigging in the February 8, 2024 elections, suppression of peaceful protests, violence against TTAP members in Punjab, and displacement in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Tirah area.

Questioning whether terrorism could be eradicated without justice and local support, Abbas said economic and security challenges could not be resolved without ending the political deadlock and urged parliament to "exercise collective wisdom".

He also called on Pakistan to oppose threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran, proposing a session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and regional dialogue to prevent any escalation.

Speaking after Abbas, Rana Sanaullah said allegations surrounding the February 8 elections were not unprecedented, recalling similar claims after previous polls, including the 2018 general elections. Remaining trapped in past grievances, he said, would hinder national progress.

Sanaullah agreed that Pakistan's electoral system lacked complete credibility and required reforms. "If we accept that free and fair elections remain a challenge, the solution lies in sitting together to improve election laws, procedures and the role of institutions like the ECP," he said.

Citing the 'Charter of Democracy', he urged all political parties to work towards a 'Charter of Stability', stressing that political, electoral and institutional challenges could only be resolved through dialogue and consensus within parliament.

He added that with opposition leaders now appointed in both the National Assembly and the Senate, there was an opportunity to steer politics towards stability through parliamentary debate on judicial independence, political cases, electoral reforms and democratic norms.

The appointments came after more than five months of delay, as the positions had remained vacant since August 2025, when Shibli Faraz and his National Assembly counterpart Omar Ayub were convicted and disqualified.