PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued a stay order on the appointment of new opposition leaders in both the National Assembly and the Senate. This action comes amid hearings on petitions challenging the disqualification notices issued to PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz.
A bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr. Khurshid Iqbal heard the petitions and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan, along with other respondents, to submit their responses by August 15. The court’s interim ruling halts the nomination process for opposition leadership roles in both parliamentary chambers until further notice. Following the disqualification, the positions of Opposition Leader, Parliamentary Leader, and Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly have been officially declared vacant.
It is expected that the National Assembly Speaker will soon issue a notification to appoint a new Opposition Leader. Meanwhile, PTI-supported independent members will need to submit fresh nominations for the roles of Parliamentary Leader and Deputy Parliamentary Leader.
Furthermore, Omar Ayub has been removed from membership of both the Public Accounts Committee and the Finance Committee in light of his disqualification.
