Mahmood Khan Achakzai delivers his first speech at the National Assembly as leader of the opposition on January 19, 2026. Screen recording
ISLAMABAD:
A petitioner has challenged the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly (nominated by PTI founder Imran Khan) before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
Justice (retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, counsel for PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, filed a constitutional appeal contending that declaring Achakzai as opposition leader violates relevant constitutional provisions and laws.
The appeal maintains that the procedure adopted to appoint the opposition leader was neither independent nor in accordance with the rules.
It further claims that the legally required process to determine the free will and consent of the members of the National Assembly concerned was not completed, resulting in violations of the constitutional guarantees provided for in Articles 4 and 17 of the Constitution.
The petition maintains that the notification of Achakzai’s appointment reflects a serious constitutional violation. It claims that the opposition leader was nominated by an individual, Imran Khan, who is currently in prison and has been declared disqualified from holding public office.
Therefore, the nomination has no legal validity.
The appeal also alleges that the notification is illegal because it violates Rule 39(3) of the National Assembly Business Conduct and Procedure Rules 2007, as mandatory requirements under that rule were not met.
In accordance with Rule 39(3), the president may declare a member leader of the opposition only after verifying the signatures of the NA members who support the nomination and determining that the candidate represents the greatest numerical strength among the opposition members.
The petition emphasizes that verifying members’ signatures is not a mere formality or a discretionary act but a mandatory legal requirement. It involves independently confirming the authenticity of signatures and the voluntary consent of interested members.
The appeal maintains that the president’s authority to announce the appointment of the opposition leader is conditional on such verification and cannot be exercised in a vacuum.
The FCC has been asked to declare void the notification appointing Mahmood Khan Achakzai as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
The appeal further states that under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, a disqualified person cannot be allowed to interfere directly or indirectly in the political process.
Take note that, according to public statements, the opposition leader was appointed by a constitutionally disqualified person.
On 12 January 2026, PTI’s Amir Dogar told the media outside Parliament that the PTI founder had nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai as leader of the opposition.
Months after their predecessors, Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, were denotified as legislators following their convictions in the May 9 riot cases, the National Assembly and Senate notified new opposition leaders in January: Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
