Islamabad (Web Desk): The National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq requested lawmakers to submit their nominations for the position of Leader of the Opposition by January 13, announcing that the counting of proposals would take place at 3:00pm on Wednesday January 14 under Rule 39 of the House rules.
The speaker explained that the member receiving the highest number of verified signatures would be officially recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. He added that members who were not originally signatories but attended the count and endorsed the proposal would also be included in the tally.
During the session, parliamentary whip Aamir Dogar told the House that 76 members had backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the role and asked for additional time until Tuesday to fulfill all procedural requirements.
Earlier in the proceedings, Speaker Sadiq read out the nomination procedure following questions from lawmakers after the previous officeholder’s disqualification.
He mentioned that letters had been sent on November 19, December 5, December 19, and December 29, 2025, to Aamir Dogar and Gohar Ali Khan, and confirmed that the associated cases had been withdrawn from the Peshawar High Court.
The Speaker also emphasized that all Members of the National Assembly must submit their annual tax returns by January 15.
Those who fail to comply would be treated as suspended and denied entry to the House. The session was then adjourned until 11:00am on Tuesday.