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LAHORE:
A day after Mahmood Khan Achakzai was finally notified as opposition leader in the National Assembly, senior PTI leaders imprisoned at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on Saturday called for the immediate appointment of a leader of the opposition in the Senate, naming Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas for the post.
In a joint letter, PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Umar Sarfraz Cheema congratulated Achakzai on assuming the NA opposition leader’s office after months of delay.
The jailed leaders expressed hope that Achakzai, working under the guidance of PTI founder Imran Khan, would fulfil his responsibilities in restoring democracy and the Constitution, upholding the rule of law, ensuring the supremacy of the judiciary and safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens and political workers.
They also voiced expectations that Achakzai would initiate consultations aimed at steering Pakistan out of a prolonged political and economic crisis spanning the past four years.
Pointing to an “unjustified delay” in appointing the NA opposition leader, the PTI leaders stressed that the opposition leadership in the Senate should now be filled “immediately”.
Earlier in the day, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the process would move forward once procedural hurdles were cleared.
