Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has stated that the formal notification appointing Akhtar Mengal as the Leader of the Opposition is expected to be issued by Thursday. Speaking to Geo News, Barrister Gohar said that key procedural matters regarding the appointment had been settled during a meeting between a PTI delegation and the Speaker of the National Assembly.
According to Barrister Gohar, the meeting with the Speaker focused specifically on finalizing the mechanism and constitutional procedure for the appointment of the Opposition Leader. He emphasized that consensus had been reached on the process, clearing the way for the notification to be issued within the stated timeframe. “The Speaker and our delegation discussed the matter in detail, and the procedure for appointing the Opposition Leader has now been agreed upon. God willing, the notification will be issued by Thursday,” he said.
The PTI chairman further revealed that members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were also present during the meeting with the Speaker. However, he expressed strong reservations about their role in the process, arguing that PPP lawmakers do not currently sit on the opposition benches and therefore do not have the right to influence the appointment of the Opposition Leader.
“Two members of the Pakistan Peoples Party were present in the meeting with the Speaker,” Barrister Gohar said. “But the reality is that PPP members are not sitting on the opposition benches. As such, they do not have the constitutional or parliamentary right to claim a role in this matter.”
He added that PPP representatives had clearly stated during the meeting that they would not submit any formal documentation related to the appointment of the Opposition Leader. This, he argued, further weakens any claim by the party to be involved in the process. “They have themselves said that they will not submit any documents. If they are not part of the opposition and are unwilling to fulfill procedural requirements, then their position is clear,” he remarked.
Barrister Gohar’s comments come amid ongoing political maneuvering in the National Assembly, where the formal recognition of an Opposition Leader is a critical step for parliamentary functioning. The Leader of the Opposition plays a key constitutional role, particularly in matters such as appointments to caretaker governments, judicial commissions, and accountability bodies. The delay in issuing the notification has been a source of political debate and speculation in recent days.
By naming Akhtar Mengal for the post, PTI aims to consolidate opposition ranks and ensure that parliamentary conventions are followed despite the complex political landscape. Mengal, a seasoned politician and head of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), is widely regarded as an experienced parliamentarian with a strong stance on constitutional rights and provincial autonomy. His appointment is expected to lend greater coherence and direction to opposition politics within the Assembly.
Barrister Gohar also used the opportunity to criticize the government’s broader political strategy, suggesting that it has been moving from one narrative to another without delivering tangible results. In a related statement earlier, he had accused the government of abandoning its “super speed” governance claims and instead searching for a new “wonder boy” to salvage its political standing. These remarks reflect PTI’s broader critique of what it sees as inconsistent governance and a lack of clear direction on the part of the ruling coalition.
Political analysts note that the formal notification of the Opposition Leader could help reduce institutional uncertainty in the National Assembly. Without a recognized Opposition Leader, several parliamentary and constitutional processes remain stalled or controversial. The Speaker’s agreement on the procedure, as described by Barrister Gohar, is therefore being viewed as a significant development.
At the same time, the issue has once again highlighted divisions among opposition parties themselves. While PTI insists that only those parties sitting on the opposition benches should have a say in the matter, other parties have sought to assert their relevance through political statements and behind-the-scenes negotiations. The PPP’s reported stance of not submitting documentation suggests that it may be distancing itself from the formal process, at least for now.
If the notification is indeed issued by Thursday as promised, it would mark an important moment in the current parliamentary session. It would not only formalize Akhtar Mengal’s role but also clarify the opposition’s leadership structure at a time when Pakistan’s political environment remains highly polarized.
