Islamabad: PTI backed and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas has been appointed opposition leader in the Senate. Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gillani has made announcement in Senate regarding appointment of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as opposition leader in Senate.
Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gillani said that Raja Nasir Abbas enjoys support of 22 out of 32 opposition members of Senate. The powers for declaring opposition leader rest with chairman Senate. I declare Senator Nasir Abbas as leader of the opposition.
Senate secretariat has issued notification with regard to appointment of opposition leader in Senate. Notification was issued with the signatures of acting secretary Senate.
Copy of notification was sent to Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and other members of Senate.
Secretary Senate Hafiz Ullah Sheikh has issued notification in respect of leader of opposition in Senate.
According to a notification issued by the Senate Secretariat, the appointment was made under sub-rule (3) of Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, and took effect immediately.
Chairman Senate said the matter related to notification of leader of the opposition remained in Senate secretariat. He added that the delay in filling the post was due to ongoing judicial matters, which have now been resolved. I will now act upon as per rules.
The Question Hour was suspended to allow proceedings related to the appointment. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar moved the motion, which was unanimously approved by the House.
Addressing the Senate, Tarar congratulated Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on assuming the role. He expressed hope that political differences would remain within democratic limits and that the overall parliamentary atmosphere would remain constructive.
During the session, government member Nasir Butt made sarcastic remarks, questioning whether the PTI had any eligible candidate for the opposition leader's post. He also mockingly asked whether Allama Raja Nasir Abbas had joined the PTI, drawing reactions from opposition members.
Earlier, a meeting between government and opposition members with the Senate chairman was held, where all matters related to the appointment were settled.
The delegation included Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Ali Zafar, Aun Abbas Bappi, and Falak Naz Chitrali, while Rana Sanaullah, Azam Nazir Tarar, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry represented the government side.
Following the announcement, PTI members banged their desks and raised slogans in support of the party's founder. At the same time, both government and opposition members congratulated Raja Nasir Abbas, reflecting a mixed but charged atmosphere in the House.
The seat of opposition leader had fallen vacant due to disqualification of Shibli Faraz.