Legal Route Remains PTI’s Priority for Ayub, Faraz Reinstatement
ISLAMABAD: Amid mounting speculation and internal dissent, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have clarified that the nomination of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Azam Swati as opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively, is only a contingency plan. The party insists its first and foremost priority is the reinstatement of former opposition leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, both disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan due to their convictions related to the May 9 events.
Speaking to the media, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that the party is committed to exhausting all legal avenues to overturn the disqualifications. “We will stand by our leaders and believe the court will rule in our favour,” he said. Similarly, Omar Ayub stated that the final decision on any new appointments will only be taken after legal remedies are fully pursued. He added that if the government insisted on submitting new names, only then would the nominations of Mr Achakzai and Mr Swati be officially forwarded.
Internal Discontent Surfaces Over Outsider’s Nomination
The announcement of Achakzai’s name — a non-PTI member and head of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party — as a potential opposition leader triggered discontent within PTI ranks. Many questioned why an outsider was chosen to lead a PTI-dominated opposition in parliament. However, party insiders have since clarified that the decision was influenced by Imran Khan himself, who feared restricted access to communicate from prison and sought to secure a backup leadership plan in advance.
During a recent PTI parliamentary meeting, Ali Bukhari conveyed that Khan directed all legal measures be pursued first. Only if the legal process failed should the names of Achakzai and Swati be submitted, citing the need to maintain unity within the broader opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, which Achakzai currently leads.
Achakzai’s Role Symbolic, Yet Strategic
Senior PTI leaders, including Asad Qaiser and Sheikh Waqas Akram, emphasized that Achakzai’s nomination should be viewed as both strategic and symbolic. Qaiser reiterated that Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz remain the party’s first choices for leading the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate. “However, if the situation doesn’t favour their return, Achakzai is a seasoned politician capable of leading the opposition and representing the alliance,” he added.
Waqas Akram highlighted that PTI had previously backed Achakzai for the presidency, stressing that Imran Khan has always advocated for a unified opposition, even reaching out to Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the past under the same vision.
Achakzai, known for his strong anti-establishment stance, is also seen as a bridge between PTI and other regional parties, particularly from Balochistan. Senator Swati, a loyal PTI figure, also brings experience despite past legal troubles, including jail time over controversial tweets.
