PTI News, Updates and Discussion

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Opp regains voice in National Assembly​

After months of limbo, Ayaz notifies Achakzai as leader of the opposition

Bushra Nazeer
January 17, 2026

ISLAMABAD: After months of procedural limbo and wrangling, the National Assembly on Friday finally saw the opposition benches regain a formal voice, as Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai was appointed leader of the opposition, returning a formal opposition to the lower house amid wider political paralysis.

The appointment of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief, who also heads the grand opposition alliance, brings a long-stalled constitutional process back on track, following weeks of speculation over whether the notification would ever see the light of day.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq issued the long-awaited notification, offering a political silver lining amid deepening trust deficit between the treasury and opposition.

The post of opposition leader had remained vacant since August 7, after incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan nominated Achakzai as the consensus candidate. While the notification was widely expected by January 15, its delay triggered fresh uncertainty within opposition ranks and renewed accusations of deliberate foot-dragging.

The stalemate finally broke during a National Assembly session the following day, when Speaker Ayaz Sadiq summoned PTI chairman Barrister Gohar and Chief Whip Amir Dogar to his chamber, saying that the notification was ready.

The three ventured into the speaker's chamber and, upon emerging, confirmed the development.

"The notification has been issued today, and Mahmood Achakzai has been officially declared as the leader of the opposition," Barrister Gohar said.

 

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Talks only possible if other side realises excesses committed: Achakzai​

Mohammad Hussain Khan
January 18, 2026




Mehmood Khan Achakzai

• Newly appointed NA opposition leader terms preventing Imran from meeting his family a violation of fundamental rights
• Urges political parties to decide whether ‘voice of majority’ or ‘undemocratic forces’ will be supreme

SANN (Jamshoro): The leader of the country’s main opposition alliance believes that there can only be talks if the other side realises that excesses have been committed that need to be redressed.

Dawn caught up with Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the newly-appointed Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, at the residence of Syed Zain Shah on Saturday, where he had arrived to attend the 122nd birth anniversary celebrations of G.M. Syed.

However, Mr Achakzai made it clear that he was speaking in his capacity as leader of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance.

“I haven’t yet received the notification, that’s why I will comment as TTAP leader,” he said in response to a question about how he would manifest his role as the opposition leader in the assembly.

 

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On the subject of possible talks with the rulers to defuse prevailing political tensions, Mr Achakzai said, “If someone has the realisation that excesses have been committed, then there is recourse and treatment too. Let’s then talk.”

The TTAP leader was adamant that denying Imran Khan’s family access to him was a violation of fundamental rights, basic ethics, and humanity.

Questioned about Rana Sanaullah’s claim that while PTI leaders want negotiations, but Mr Khan doesn’t, Mr Achakzai posed a counter-question: “Talks on what issue? If someone robs the home of Saeen [Zain Shah] and loots everyone,” he said, gesturing towards his surroundings, “then talks will be held [with the robbers] to recover the looted goods”.

He said everyone knows it was Imran Khan who won the elections with a resounding majority, and the fact that the most popular leader in the country was not even being allowed to meet his family while in prison, was deplorable.

“A car can be invented, not a political leader. A leader emerges from amongst the masses,” he said.

Talking about his bitter past with the incarcerated PTI founder, he said it was no longer an issue since he and MWM chief Raja Nasir Abbas had joined hands with Mr Khan when he was in trouble.

While his associates are being punished or offered bribes, “I am one of those jumping in to help people in trouble”, he said.

 

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Mr Achakzai urged major political parties to generate a consensus on a few crucial things — Pakistan being a federation; constitutional supremacy; parliament to serve as a bastion of power and to frame external and internal policies; people of federating units to have first right over their resources; and, respect for their languages and cultures.

“There should be talks whether Jamhoor (the people) will be supreme or the undemocratic forces,” he opined. He said that Pakistan was a pluralist state where people’s languages and cultures should be respected. Injustices engender hate and this leads to conflict, he said.

He was of the view that ever since the inception of Pakistan, civilian authority had not been allowed to establish itself.

On whether 26th and 27th Amendments served democracy, he said: “Many believe there has been constitutional demise in their wake. Two judges, who are supposed to interpret the Constitution, resigned. The judiciary’s wings are clipped, journalism is banned.

Now, parliament is no longer even a debating society. To date, nothing has been brought before parliament for debate.”

He noted that a single individual could not handle the current situation. “Collective wisdom” could work.

“The TTAP was formed because we had foreseen then that this parliament [after the Feb 8 polls] will come after the Constitution, because everything is being done through the assembly,” he said, recalling that after Gen Ayub Khan’s martial law, parliament had passed a two-line resolution to forgive him for his crimes.

 

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Subscri​

Incarcerated PTI leaders call for appointing MWM chief Abbas opposition leader in Senate ‘immediately’​

Rana Bilal
January 17, 2026



A combination photo shows PTI leaders (first row) Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, (second row) Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Ejaz Chaudhry and Umar Sarfraz Cheema. — DawnNewsTV/File

Senior PTI leaders imprisoned in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on Saturday demanded that Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas be appointed the Senate opposition leader immediately.

In a letter seen by Dawn, PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Umar Sarfraz Cheema congratulated veteran politician Mehmood Khan Achakzai on his appointment as the opposition leader in the National Assembly after a months-long delay.

The letter was shared with the media by their counsel, Rana Mudassir.

 

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The PTI leaders hoped Achakzai, under the guidance of party founder Imran Khan, would fulfil his responsibility in restoring democracy and the Constitution, ensuring the rule of law, the supremacy of the judiciary and the protection of the fundamental rights of the people and political workers.

They also hoped that Achakzai would hold consultations on lifting Pakistan out of the quagmire and economic crisis it has been dealing with for the past four years.

They noted that the government had appointed the NA opposition leader after much delay, adding that Nasir should be appointed the opposition leader in the upper house of Parliament “immediately”.

Earlier in the day, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had also commented on the matter while speaking to Geo News in Lahore.

Asked when the Senate opposition leader would be appointed, he said: “That will also happen. The Senate chairman is serving as the acting president right now … Sherry Rehman chaired yesterday’s meeting.

“Once the Senate chairman returns, then this will also happen,” the minister added.

Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Achakzai was finally appointed leader of the opposition in the National Assembly on Friday — a slot that had been lying vacant for almost five months since the disqualification of PTI’s Omar Ayub.

 

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In first speech as NA opposition leader, Achakzai vows ‘unconditional support’ for strengthening house​

News Desk
January 19, 2026



NA opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai addresses the National Assembly on January 19. — Screengrab via YouTube/National Assembly of Pakistan

In his first speech after being appointed the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Monday vowed unconditional support for strengthening the lower house of Parliament.

It is worth mentioning that several parts of Achakzai’s nearly 30-minute speech were muted in the NA’s livestream.

At the outset of his address, Achakzai said: “The TTAP makes a promise to the whole country — if you wish to strengthen this house … you will receive our unconditional support.

 

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Gilani to notify MWM chief as Senate opposition leader by tomorrow: PTI’s Ali Zafar​

Iftikhar A. Khan
January 19, 2026



Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. — Photo courtesy Senate website

ISLAMABAD: PTI Senator Ali Zafar said on Monday that Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani had communicated to him that Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas would be notified as the opposition leader in the upper house of Parliament by tomorrow (Tuesday).

Speaking to Dawn, Zafar said he had submitted a letter to the Senate chairperson, seeking the appointment of Abbas.

According to the PTI senator, Gilani had accepted the opposition’s demand of appointing Abbas to the vacant position and said that an announcement about his appointment would also be made in the House.

 

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The opposition leader’s posts in the Senate and the National Assembly (NA) had fallen vacant in August 2025, following the disqualification of PTI’s Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub, respectively. The two were disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan after their convictions in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.

The PTI had then nominated Abbas as its candidate for the opposition leader’s position in the Senate and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai to fill the NA slot. After a months-long delay, Achakzai was notified as the NA opposition leader last week.

In his letter to Gilani, seen by Dawn, Senator Zafar recalled that the PTI had “duly nominated the honourable Senator Mr Raja Nasir Abbas for the post of the leader of the opposition in the Senate of Pakistan”.

“The continued non-appointment of the leader of the opposition is not only inconsistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, but also runs contrary to well-established democratic traditions and parliamentary conventions,” the letter read.

It added that the “opposition is an indispensable pillar of any democratic system. A House without a formally recognised leader of the opposition remains institutionally incomplete, and its ability to perform its constitutional role of oversight, accountability, and meaningful debate is seriously undermined”.

 

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PTI being unfairly targeted, insist treasury lawmakers in KP Assembly​

Umer Farooq
January 20, 2026

PESHAWAR: Treasury lawmakers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday insisted that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was being unfairly targeted.

Referring to the military spokesperson’s recent news conference in which he wondered why militants didn’t target the PTI, the lawmakers insisted that their party’s both leaders and activists were victims of militancy.

During an assembly session chaired by Deputy Speaker Suriyya Bibi, housing minister Dr Amjad Ali said the top PTI leadership and Senator Khurram Zeeshan and MPAs Malik Liaqat, Anwar Zeb faced militant attacks.