Islamabad: The National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Friday notified Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the new opposition leader in the lower house, months after the key post was left vacant.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who also heads Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), was nominated for the top parliamentary post by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for NA opposition leader following the disqualification of his predecessor Omar Ayub Khan after being sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in a May 9 case.

"In pursuance of rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in NA, 2007, honourable speaker has been pleased to declare Mahmood Khan Achakzai, MNA, as Leader of the Opposition in NA with effect from January 16, 2026," reads the notification issued by NA Acting Secretary Saeed Ahmad Maitla.

The notification was issued after an opposition lawmakers' delegation, including PTI's Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Junaid Akbar, Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar, Shahram Khan Tarakai, Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, Ali Asghar Khan, Malik Anwar Taj, Shandana Gulzar Khan and Jamal Ahsan Khan met NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in his chamber. Law Minister Senator Chaudhry Azam Nazeer Tarar and Romina Khurshid Alam were also present on the occasion.

During the National Assembly session Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Malik Aamir Dogar should visit his chamber to take the notification of Leader of the Opposition in NA.

Reacting to the development, PTI leader Ayub extended "heartiest congratulations" to Achakzai on being notified as NA opposition leader. "It is a great singular honour and [...] Achakzai sahib will InshaAllah fulfil his responsibilities brilliantly," Ayub said in a post on X.

Achakzai's appointment holds significance as he has called for a national dialogue among all political parties to steer the country out of crisis.