ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has said that the constitutional process to appoint a new leader of the opposition in the house will begin in its upcoming session, state media reported on Tuesday. 

The opposition leader’s post has remained vacant since August last year, after Pakistan’s election commission disqualified Omar Ayub Khan following his conviction by an anti-terrorism court. 

Khan, who is a senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former prime minister Imran Khan, was convicted along with eight other lawmakers of being involved in violent anti-government protests on May 9, 2023. Angry Khan supporters on that day damaged government buildings and military installations across the country after the former premier was briefly detained on corruption allegations. Imran Khan and his party have distanced themselves from the violent protests, saying they did not instigate masses for violent activities. 

“Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq says constitutional process to appoint the Leader of the Opposition will commence in the forthcoming parliamentary session,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

The state media said Sadiq was speaking to reporters informally at the Parliament House. He added that further action for the opposition leader’s appointment would proceed after the verification and authentication of opposition members’ signatures.

The development takes place a day after Sadiq met senior PTI leader and National Assembly Chief Whip Amir Dogar to discuss the new opposition leader’s appointment. 

Dogar reiterated his party’s demand for Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a veteran politician, to be appointed as the opposition leader, the official NA website said. 

“Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq emphasized that all proceedings will be conducted strictly in accordance with rules, laws, and the constitution,” the NA website said. “He further stated that he will inform the House about this matter in the upcoming session of the National Assembly.”

Sadiq said the rules of the opposition leader’s appointment are clear, adding that the process to appoint him would be initiated afresh. 

The opposition leader’s post is an important one in Pakistan’s parliamentary politics. The opposition leader typically leads criticism of the government’s policies during NA sessions and acts as the main face of the opposition parties publicly.