Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior leader of the PML-N, Rana Sanaullah. Photo: APP/File
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, said on Friday that he expected progress in the appointment of the opposition leader in the Senate by next week, following the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the opposition leader in the National Assembly.
In October last year, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had nominated Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as candidates for the posts of opposition leaders in the NA and Senate respectively.
After months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the post today after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq issued his notification. However, no decision regarding the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate has yet been made.
Speaking in an interview on Naya Pakistan Speaking to a private news channel, Sanaullah said the NA president had completed the required process and issued the notification appointing Achakzai after seeking the opinion of opposition members.
“There are now no more obstacles in the Senate [process] Also. I think as soon as the Senate President…comes back next week, then I think this process [of the Senate opposition leader’s appointment] will be done.”
Asked about PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s remarks that Achakzai’s appointment would be seen as a confidence-building measure, Sanaullah termed the statement positive.
He said opposition members should play their “full role” in Parliament and suggested that those who had strayed from standing committees return to the Assembly and also participate in committee work.
Responding to a claim by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl leader Kamran Murtaza that Achakzai contacted PML-N president Nawaz Sharif for his intervention to enable the issuance of the notification, Sanaullah said he was not aware of any such contact.
However, he added that it was not possible that President Sadiq would have taken such a decision without taking his party leadership and the Prime Minister into confidence.
Sanaullah said the government remained in contact with PTI leaders, including Achakzai, but noted that a hostile environment within the party’s ranks limited public disclosure of these contacts.
He said there was a “verbal abuse brigade” within the PTI that targeted individuals perceived to be in contact with the government, which was why such engagements were not openly highlighted, although contacts with party members continued.
Sanaullah said several PTI leaders believed that solutions could emerge only through Parliament and dialogue, adding that political parties should sit together as past discussions had made things easier and helped find a way forward.
However, he said PTI founder Imran Khan was not in favor of dialogue. He added that although PTI leaders wanted talks, they themselves said that Imran did not support negotiations. “When PTI members meet us, they also say that he is not ready, but if given a chance, they can persuade him,” he added.
Sanaullah clarified that such a will could only emerge after February 8, citing the nationwide demonstration planned by the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan on that date.
