The prolonged deadlock between the government and the opposition over the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly has finally ended, sources said on Monday.
Officials familiar with the development said the federal government has formally conveyed its approval to the Speaker of the National Assembly. This cleared the way for Achakzai’s appointment. Following this, Ayaz Sadiq has initiated the official process required under parliamentary rules.
Sources said the Speaker consulted coalition partners before moving ahead. The parties agreed that further delay was not viable. The post of Opposition Leader is a constitutional requirement and essential for parliamentary functioning.
After completion of the remaining formalities, an official notification appointing Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition is expected to be issued shortly.
The matter had been under review since October 27, 2025. On that date, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq chaired a meeting to examine Achakzai’s nomination. Senior officials from the National Assembly’s Legislative Branch attended the session. They briefed the Speaker on the procedural aspects of the nomination.
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During the meeting, the Speaker directed officials to verify the signatures of all 74 opposition members who supported Achakzai’s candidacy. Officials also discussed Rule 39 of the National Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, which governs the appointment of the Opposition Leader, in detail.
Officials informed the Speaker that all 74 independent lawmakers endorsed the nomination. They also clarified that no officially recognised parliamentary group currently bears the names Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or Sunni Ittehad Council in the National Assembly.
Sources said the Speaker opted for caution and chose not to rush the decision. Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker faces no fixed deadline to announce the appointment. With government approval now in place and verification complete, the long-pending issue will be resolved formally in the coming days.
