ISLAMABAD: In a significant political development, Omar Ayub Khan, a senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the lower house of Parliament, announced National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday.
The decision was made following a meeting between members of the opposition, including prominent figures like Gohar Khan, Amir Dogar, and Omar Ayub Khan himself, with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. During the meeting, the nomination for the leader of the opposition was discussed, and Omar Ayub Khan’s name was put forward for the position.
According to a press release issued by the Assembly Secretariat, Ayaz Sadiq declared Omar Ayub Khan as the leader of the opposition after completing the scrutiny process as per Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly. The nomination deadline for the position had ended on Monday at 6 pm, and no other candidates had submitted their nomination papers by the stipulated time.
A notification released by the NA Secretariat confirmed Omar Ayub Khan’s appointment as the leader of the opposition, effective from April 2. This decision follows the formal nomination of Ayub by the PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance on March 9, where his documents were submitted to the speaker’s office.
It’s noteworthy that while many PTI-backed independent candidates had officially joined the SIC in February by submitting affidavits to the Election Commission, Omar Ayub Khan and Gohar Khan abstained from doing so due to their intentions to participate in the PTI’s intra-party polls. Subsequently, both Ayub and Gohar were elected unopposed as the chairman and secretary-general of the PTI, respectively.
The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly holds a significant position, akin to a federal minister. They sit in front of the NA speaker on the left side and on the right side of the leader of the house. Additionally, the leader of the opposition typically heads the Public Accounts Committee and is provided with a separate office, often used for conducting opposition party meetings.
Omar Ayub Khan’s appointment marks a notable development in Pakistan’s political landscape, potentially influencing parliamentary dynamics and opposition strategies in the coming months.
