Rana Sanaullah, advisor to the prime minister and leader of the PML-N. Photo: APP/File
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that he expected progress on the appointment of the Senate opposition leader next week, following the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as opposition leader in the National Assembly.
In October last year, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had nominated Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as its candidates for the posts of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate respectively.
After months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the position today after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq issued his notification. However, a decision on the leader of the opposition in the Senate has not yet been made.
Speaking in an interview about Naya Pakistan Speaking on a private news station, Sanaullah said the Speaker of the National Assembly completed the required process and issued the notification appointing Achakzai after seeking input from opposition members.
“There is no longer any obstacle left in the Senate [process] also. I think as soon as the president of the Senate… comes back next week, then I think this process [of the Senate opposition leader’s appointment] will be done.”
When asked about PTI Chairman Advocate Gohar Ali Khan’s statement that Achakzai’s appointment would be taken as a confidence-building measure, Sanaullah termed the statement positive.
He said opposition members should play their “full role” in Parliament and suggested that those who had distanced themselves from standing committees should return to the assembly and also participate in committee proceedings.
Responding to a claim by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl leader Kamran Murtaza that Achakzai had allegedly contacted PML-N president Nawaz Sharif to intervene and allow the issuance of the notification, Sanaullah said he was not aware of any such contact.
However, he added that it was not possible for President Sadiq to have taken such a decision without trusting his party leadership and the prime minister.
Sanaullah said the government remained in contact with PTI leaders, including Achakzai, but noted that a hostile environment within the party’s ranks limited public disclosure of such contacts.
He said there was a “verbal abuse brigade” within the PTI that targeted people who were seen to be collaborating with the government, which is why such engagements were not openly highlighted, although contact with party members continued.
Sanaullah said several PTI leaders believed that solutions could only emerge through Parliament and dialogue, adding that political parties should sit together as past discussions had made things easier and helped find a way forward.
However, he said PTI founder Imran Khan was not in favor of dialogue. He added that while PTI leaders wanted talks, they themselves said that Imran did not support negotiations. “When PTI members meet us, they also say that he is not ready, but if given a chance, they can persuade him,” he added.
Sanaullah clarified that such a provision could only come after February 8, citing the nationwide protest planned by the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan coalition for that date.
