Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a major political jolt on Friday as the party was stripped of three key positions including the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, reported 24NewsHD TV channel reported.
PTI's Omar Ayub has been removed from his post as Opposition Leader, while Zartaj Gul’s role as Parliamentary Leader and Ahmad Chattha’s position as Deputy Parliamentary Leader have also been vacated.
Sources revealed that the opposition leader’s chamber has also been taken back from Omer Ayub Khan after his disqualification.
The Speaker of the National Assembly informed the House about the disqualification of certain members in accordance with the assembly’s rules.
--Speaker to consult opposition for new leadership--
Following the vacancy of these positions, consultations between the opposition and the Speaker for the appointment of a new opposition leader will now resume.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will issue a notification for the new opposition leader once a decision is finalised.
PTI-backed independent members will also be required to submit fresh nominations for the posts of the parliamentary leader and the deputy parliamentary leader.
According to sources, Omar Ayub has also been de-listed from the Public Accounts Committee and the Finance Committee.
Membership in 15 standing committees has also been revoked from seven disqualified PTI members.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza has been removed from his role as Chairman of the Human Rights Standing Committee.
--ECP notifies Mishal Yousafzai as senator--
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has issued a notification confirming the election of Mishal Yousafzai as senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a women’s reserved seat. She will take the oath as senator in the upcoming session, filling the vacancy left by Senator Sania Nishtar.
--Mehmood Achakzai annoyed--
Separately, tensions have emerged between PTI leadership and seasoned politician and parliamentarian Mahmood Khan Achakzai over the August 5 protest, with sources claiming he is unhappy with the party’s actions.
Due to this discontent, Achakzai did not join the opposition lobby nor participate in any PTI consultations.
According to Achakzai’s circle, only seven MNAs and officeholders arrived to express solidarity with PTI’s founder Imran Khan on August 5, while 35 MNAs stayed in Parliament, pretending to be “under siege”.
Sources close to Achakzai revealed that it had been decided that all MNAs would join him one by one, but after waiting for seven hours, no PTI MNAs arrived at Adiala.
Only Shandana Gulzar accompanied him, while Latif Khosa left Parliament with the group but mysteriously disappeared en route. Later, after 7 pm, Amir Dogar and three MNAs eventually arrived at the spot.
Reporters: Rozina Ali, Usman Khan, and Tayyab Saif