ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned a session of the National Assembly on Monday, paving the way for the formal process to appoint a new Leader of the Opposition.
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The issue of the opposition leader is expected to resurface following the withdrawal of petitions by PTI leader Omar Ayub from the Supreme Court and various high courts, challenging his removal from the position.
Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had maintained that the appointment process could not be initiated as the matter was sub judice. With the petitions now withdrawn and the assembly session convened, the speaker is expected to formally ask opposition parties to follow the prescribed procedure for nominating a new leader.
The opposition has repeatedly accused the government of delaying the appointment and has nominated Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai for the post. However, procedural requirements under Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, stipulate that it is the sole prerogative of the speaker to seek a nomination from the opposition.
Although the opposition has already submitted Achakzai’s name to the speaker’s office, the rules require the nomination to be formally presented to the speaker, who must then verify the signatures of all opposition members supporting the candidate.
Rule 39 further states that following each general election — and at any time thereafter — the speaker is obligated to declare the Leader of the Opposition as soon as possible after the election of the prime minister.
