TTAP deputy leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas speaks to the media alongside alliance leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai after arriving in Lahore on January 8, 2026.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar on Monday said Senate President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided on the appointment of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as Leader of Opposition in the upper house of Parliament and the process has begun.
Speaking to the media at Parliament, Zafar said that during a meeting, the Senate President was reminded that he had earlier said that he was consulting with the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the issuance of a notification to the Leader of the Opposition in the upper house.
Since NA President Ayaz Sadiq decided and nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the NA Opposition Leader, Zafar said Gilani was also asked to announce the PTI candidate for the post of Opposition Leader in the Senate.
“This house is not complete without the Leader of the Opposition. The President consulted the Law Minister and said, ‘I have taken my decision and that is that the Leader of the Opposition you have requested… we will announce Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as the Leader of the Opposition and the process for that has begun. The secretariat will issue the notification to this effect.’
Last week, the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, had said he expected progress in appointing the opposition leader to the Senate by this week, following Achakzai’s appointment as opposition leader in the National Assembly.
In October last year, the PTI had nominated Achakzai and Allama Abbas as candidates for the positions of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate respectively.
After months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the post last week after Sadiq issued his notification.
