TTAP Deputy Chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas addresses the media along with alliance chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai after arriving in Lahore on January 8, 2026.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar said on Monday that Senate President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani decided on the appointment of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as leader of the opposition in the upper house of Parliament and the process for it had begun.
Speaking to the media in Parliament, Zafar said that during a meeting the Senate President was reminded that he had earlier stated that he was consulting with the Speaker of the National Assembly on issuing a notification to the leader of the opposition in the upper house.
Since National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had decided and appointed Mahmood Khan Achakzai as National Assembly Opposition Leader, Zafar said Gilani was also asked to announce PTI’s candidate for Senate Opposition Leader.
“This house is not complete without the leader of the opposition. The president consulted the law minister and said, ‘I have taken my decision and that is that the leader of the opposition that you requested… we will announce Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as the leader of the opposition and the process for it has started. The secretariat will issue the corresponding notification.”
Last week, the Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser Rana Sanaullah had said he expected progress on the appointment of the opposition leader in the Senate this week, following the appointment of Achakzai as opposition leader in the National Assembly.
In October last year, the PTI had nominated Achakzai and Allama Abbas as its candidates for the positions of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively.
After months of delay, Achakzai was appointed to the position last week after Sadiq issued his notification.
