On August 12, 2025, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) suspended the appointment of new opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate.
The decision is pending further hearings on petitions that challenge the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz. The bench, consisting of Justices Syed Arshad Ali and Dr. Khurshid Iqbal, issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other parties, requesting their responses by August 15.
The interim order from the PHC suspends the nominations for the roles of Opposition Leader in both houses until the court addresses the petitions. Recently, the National Assembly declared the positions of Opposition Leader, Parliamentary Leader, and Deputy Parliamentary Leader vacant. These positions were previously held by PTI members, including Omar Ayub. The Speaker is expected to issue a notification for the appointment of a new Opposition Leader soon.
مجھے شبلی فراز کو احمد بھچر اور دیگر ہمارے ساتھیوں کو کیوں سزائیں ہوئیں؟ صرف اس لیے کے ہم بلوچستان کے مظلوموں کے لیے خیبرپختونخوا ، پنجاب اور سندھ کے اندر جاری مظالم کے خلاف آواز اٹھاتے ہیں ، ہم پنجاب میں جاری کرپشن بے نقاب کرتے ہیں، سندھ کے پانی پر ڈاکے کی راہ میں رکاوٹ بنتے ہیں… pic.twitter.com/LFbjolTU8p
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 12, 2025Omar Ayub has been removed from the Public Accounts and Finance Committees following his disqualification, which coincided with Shibli Faraz’s delisting from the Senate. PTI-backed independents are required to submit new nominations for parliamentary positions. These disqualifications result from ongoing legal disputes, including cases related to the riots on May 9, 2023. Although Ayub was recently acquitted in these cases, the political tensions have intensified.
Read: Lahore ATC Orders Release of Shah Mahmood Qureshi
The court’s suspension of the opposition’s restructuring delays their plans, which could strengthen the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s position as it contests the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decisions. The outcome of this situation may alter the dynamics within parliament and affect PTI’s influence, especially in light of allegations of political targeting. The hearing scheduled for August 15 will be crucial in clarifying leadership roles.
