ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, on Friday appointed Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the leader of the opposition, an official notification said, following months of delay in appointment on the key post.

The position had been vacant for almost five months since the disqualification of Omar Ayub, a member of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in Aug. 2025 after his conviction in cases relating to violent riots in May 2023.

Khan had later nominated Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and PTI’s Azam Swati for the post of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, the upper house of Pakistan parliament, according to the PTI.

An opposition leader plays a central role in ensuring parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability. He scrutinizes government policies, legislation and executive actions, raising concerns on behalf of citizens and highlighting alternative viewpoints.

“In pursuance of rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, Honorable Speaker has been pleased to declare Mehmood Khan Achakzai... as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly,” the NA Secretariat said in a notification.

Beyond legislative oversight, the opposition leader carries an important consultative role in major state appointments, including the prime minister, chief election commissioner and caretaker governments, and fosters dialogue between the treasury and the opposition.

The appointment of Achakzai, who also heads the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance, was announced after Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s meeting with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Chief Whip Amir Dogar on Friday.

The opposition had previously accused the government of delaying Achakzai’s appointment, but the NA speaker said at the time the matter was sub judice — an apparent reference to Ayub’s appeals against his disqualification in courts.

Ayub later withdrew his petitions and the NA Secretariat subsequently sent a letter to PTI Chief Whip Dogar in Dec., seeking details about the status of cases concerning Ayub. Dogar submitted the required documents to the NA speaker this month, following which the constitutional process for the appointment of the next opposition leader was initiated.

“It is reassuring to see that due process has been followed and Mr.Achakzai has been appointed as Leader of the Opposition,” PTI member Zulfikar Bukhari said in a statement. “Like Imran Khan, the entire party has full faith in him.”