PTI prioritises reinstating Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, with Mahmood Khan Achakzai as a contingency opposition leader. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai as a backup Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, pending legal efforts to reinstate Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, disqualified over May 9 riot convictions, party leaders confirmed on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Why This Matters in South Asia
The nomination of Achakzai, a Balochistan-based veteran politician, signals PTI’s strategic move to strengthen its opposition alliance amid political turbulence in Pakistan. This development underscores the ongoing power struggle and legal challenges facing PTI, with potential implications for parliamentary dynamics and regional alliances in South Asia.
PTI’s Legal Strategy
PTI’s political committee has prioritised exhausting all legal avenues to reverse the disqualifications of Omar Ayub, former National Assembly opposition leader, and Shibli Faraz, former Senate opposition leader. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified both on August 5, 2025, following convictions by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad for their alleged roles in the May 9, 2023, riots. These protests, sparked by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, involved attacks on military installations and public property.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated, “The party stands firmly with Ayub and Faraz, and we are hopeful for a favourable court ruling.” Both leaders have secured stay orders from the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, suspended further action on their disqualifications pending further hearings.
Achakzai as a Strategic Choice
PTI’s nomination of Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and head of the PTI-led Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), is a fallback plan should legal efforts fail. Omar Ayub told Dawn, “Achakzai’s nomination is the prerogative of our founder, Imran Khan, and it will bolster the opposition alliance.”
Achakzai’s selection reflects PTI’s intent to unify opposition voices, particularly from Balochistan, a region often underrepresented in national politics. PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram noted, “Imran Khan previously supported Achakzai as a presidential candidate, showing our commitment to uniting opposition forces.”
Internal Party Dynamics
The decision to nominate Achakzai, an outsider to PTI, sparked debate within the party. A senior PTI leader, speaking anonymously, revealed that during a parliamentary meeting, members sought clarity on Khan’s instructions. The leader explained that Khan, currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, feared restrictions on meeting party leaders might delay nominations, prompting the backup plan.
PTI leader Asad Qaiser reiterated, “Our first priority is to bring back Ayub and Faraz. Achakzai is a second option, chosen for his experience and Balochistan roots.”
Background
The disqualifications stem from the May 9, 2023, riots, when PTI supporters protested Khan’s arrest, leading to violence against state properties. An anti-terrorism court sentenced over 100 PTI leaders, including Ayub and Faraz, to 10 years’ imprisonment on July 31, 2025. The ECP cited Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, which disqualifies lawmakers convicted of offences involving moral turpitude with sentences exceeding two years.
The PHC’s stay order has temporarily halted new opposition leader appointments, with the next hearing scheduled for [VERIFY: exact date after August 20, 2025]. Ayub has called the ECP’s decision a violation of the PHC’s order and vowed to file a contempt application.
What’s Next
The outcome of Ayub and Faraz’s legal appeals will determine whether PTI proceeds with Achakzai’s nomination as NA leader. The party’s political committee is also deliberating participation in upcoming by-elections for vacated seats, a decision awaiting Khan’s final approval. The nomination of Achakzai as a backup NA leader highlights PTI’s efforts to maintain parliamentary influence while navigating legal and political challenges.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 24th, 2025
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