After differences within Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) over nomination of the candidate for the post of opposition leader in Sindh Assembly (SA), a rift has now developed in the opposition alliance’s ranks as MQM-P has refused to support PTI’s Haleem Adil Sheikh for the slot, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Kunwar Naveed Jamil has told Sheikh very clearly that this time opposition leader in Sindh Assembly would be from MQM-P.

On the other hand, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) instead of throwing its weight behind the PTI candidate has preferred to remain silent.

Apart from Haleem Adil Sheikh, no other PTI leader has contacted the MQM-P leaders so far to sort out the issue.

A senior PTI leader has told 24News TV channel that now only the Sindh governor will talk to the MQM-P’s high command followed by a mediation committee.

Meanwhile, speaker Sindh Assembly is yet to accept the resignation of former opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi.

It is pertinent to mention here that Haleem Adil Sheikh, too, has not so far submitted his candidature to the Sindh Assembly.

Opposition leader is always from the party that is in majority compared to other opposition parties.

On January 8, 2021, Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Firdous Shamim Naqvi had announced his resignation from his position, but at the same time insisted he was still member of the PTI.

Talking to media persons after the Sindh Assembly’s session, Naqvi said he had sent his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan via WhatsApp. He said the PTI was his first and last political party as he was going nowhere from his party.

Naqvi said he would accept the party decision about the new opposition leader.

Three months ago too, Naqvi had announced he was resigning as the opposition leader in the SA after he developed strong differences with the PTI leadership, including the prime minister, over handling of the natural gas crisis in Karachi.

At that time, however, his resignation was not accepted after he apologized for the outburst against his own party, including Prime Minister Imran Khan.