A significant political moment unfolded in the National Assembly on Monday as Mahmood Khan Achakzai formally took over as the Leader of the Opposition amid desk-thumping, slogans and strong expressions of support from opposition benches.
Achakzai arrived at Parliament House along with Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, while members associated with the PTI founder raised slogans in favour of PTI. Upon his arrival in the House, opposition members warmly welcomed Achakzai by banging desks, while members from the government benches also approached him to extend greetings.
Taking his seat as the new Opposition Leader, Achakzai was congratulated on behalf of the entire opposition. Speakers noted that he was not merely the leader of his own party but the unanimous leader of the opposition, representing what they described as nearly three crore votes. Hope was expressed that his appointment would mark the beginning of a “new journey” for the opposition and help restore public confidence in democratic politics.
In his address, Achakzai spoke at length about the challenges facing democracy and parliament. He said people were increasingly disappointed with politicians and believed democracy was weakening. Referring to economic hardship, he noted that the level of inflation seen today did not exist five years ago and lamented that the House was more divided than ever before.
He criticized the legislative process, stating that 71 laws had been passed without proper discussion, and warned that a divided House could not produce a strong nation. Emphasizing loyalty to the country, he said the opposition would carry forward the political legacy of the PTI founder and would offer unconditional support whenever efforts were made to strengthen parliament.
“This House should be the center of Pakistan’s policies,” he said, adding that Pakistan could not afford protests or public movements and that political disagreements should not descend into badmouthing. He assured the government that whenever legislation focused on public welfare, the opposition’s votes would be assured.
Achakzai reflected on regional and international issues, calling Iran a neighboring and friendly country and pointing to shifting power dynamics in the Middle East. He expressed gratitude to the PTI founder and other political figures who supported his election, noting that the National Assembly had functioned for five months without an opposition leader, which he termed unhealthy for democracy.
He voiced concern over recent constitutional amendments, saying he wished they had been used to strengthen parliament. He questioned why resolutions could not be passed for individuals facing allegations and called for the withdrawal of cases against political prisoners. He also demanded that restrictions on the PTI founder be lifted so that his sisters could meet him.
Responding to media speculations, Achakzai rejected reports claiming he sought support from political rivals like Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to secure the opposition leadership. Quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, he urged verification of news spread by “hypocrites” and said he had never requested positions from anyone. He described Nawaz Sharif as a friend and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as being like his children, stressing that his politics was rooted in principles and parliamentary dignity.
Concluding his speech, Achakzai pledged cooperation on positive legislation while opposing negative laws. At the end of his address, opposition members honoured him by placing a turban on his head.
Later, Barrister Gohar Khan also addressed the House, welcoming Achakzai’s appointment and expressing confidence that his leadership would strengthen the opposition’s role in parliament.
Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, speaking from the government side, acknowledged Achakzai’s long political career and emphasized the need for collective efforts to resolve issues in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said eliminating terrorism was a top priority, adding that the government was prepared to formulate a clear policy and engage in negotiations where necessary.
