On Friday, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq officially notified Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the new Leader of the Opposition in the lower house, filling a position that had remained vacant for months.
Achakzai, who also heads the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), was nominated for the post by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan following the disqualification of former opposition leader Omar Ayub, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a May 9 case.
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According to the notification issued by NA acting Secretary Saeed Ahmad Maitla, “In pursuance of rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in NA, 2007, the honourable speaker has been pleased to declare Mahmood Khan Achakzai, MNA, as Leader of the Opposition in NA with effect from January 16, 2026.”
The notification came after a delegation of opposition lawmakers—including PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Junaid Akbar, Aamir Dogar, Shahram Khan Tarakai, Latif Khosa, and Jamal Ahsan Khan—met with Speaker Sadiq in his chamber.
Reacting to the announcement, PTI leader Omar Ayub extended his “heartiest congratulations” to Achakzai, calling it a “great singular honour” and expressing confidence that Achakzai would fulfill his responsibilities effectively.
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Achakzai’s appointment is significant as he has advocated for a national dialogue among all political parties to guide the country out of its ongoing crisis. PTI leaders have repeatedly emphasized that the mandate to hold talks with the ruling coalition now rests with Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. Speaking to Geo News, senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Imran Khan has authorized Achakzai to negotiate with the government, noting, “Achakzai can decide better what to do.”
Since former PM Imran Khan’s ouster through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, PTI has frequently clashed with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), staging marches toward Islamabad that were met with police crackdowns and arrests. The party also faces legal challenges, with its founder and senior leaders, including Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid, detained over alleged involvement in the May 9 incidents.
Earlier this month, PML-N Senator and PM Shehbaz Sharif’s aide Rana Sanaullah stressed the need for trust-building and sustained contact among Pakistan’s top five political figures, warning that informal lower-level talks would not resolve the crisis. He suggested that Nawaz Sharif, PM Shehbaz, President Asif Ali Zardari, Imran Khan, and one other leader should meet to restore confidence.
However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan rejected the proposal, arguing that neither a meeting of the top five leaders was necessary nor feasible. He emphasized that the party had not called off negotiations but questioned the logic behind talks involving only the top five. Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja urged the federal government to clarify its proposal, stating that no dialogue could progress without the participation of PTI founder Imran Khan.
