The Senate on Tuesday finally filled a significant vacancy as Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas was formally declared the leader of the opposition in the upper house by Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Raja Nasir Abbas, who heads the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), received backing from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for this prominent position.
A notification from the Senate Secretariat stated, “In pursuance of sub-rule (3) of Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the chairman Senate has been pleased to declare Senator Raja Nasir Abbas as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, with immediate effect.”
The position had remained vacant since August last year, following the disqualification of Shibli Faraz, the former opposition leader, after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) found him guilty in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.
The announcement in the Senate comes just a week after Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), was named opposition leader in the National Assembly.
Speaking on the floor of the upper house after receiving the notification, Raja Nasir Abbas reaffirmed his support for imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan and vowed to stand by his principles without compromise.
He urged lawmakers to prioritize the struggles of ordinary citizens, pointing to challenges like access to healthcare, electricity, and education. He stressed that public welfare must guide the country’s policies and legislative agenda.
Raja Nasir also emphasized the importance of freedom of expression, calling on authorities to allow people to voice their opinions without fear.
He said resolving the current political crisis required the release of PTI’s founder and urged parliament to advocate for political prisoners.
Earlier, PTI parliamentary leader in the Senate Barrister Ali Zafar had submitted a request, writing a letter to the Senate chairman urging the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition in the upper house.
Zafar confirmed on Monday that the chairman had informed him Raja Nasir Abbas would be officially appointed by Tuesday (today).