The notification of the declaration of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly has removed a key procedural hurdle to initiating the process for appointments to several important constitutional and statutory offices that are filled through mandatory consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Which appointments require consultation with the Leader of the Opposition?

The appointments requiring mandatory consultation with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly include, among others:

• Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
• Members of the Election Commission
• Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
• Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW)
• Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

 Additionally, opposition representation on the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the Parliamentary Committee for appointment of Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities Rights is also routed through the Leader of the Opposition.

Moreover, by parliamentary convention, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly also either serves himself, or nominates a member from the opposition benches to serve as, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is a cross-chamber parliamentary body that examines the reports of the Auditor General of Pakistan on federal accounts and summons officials of ministries and departments to account for financial irregularities. This arrangement is not mandated by law or parliamentary rules, rather it has evolved as a convention following agreements in the Charter of Democracy. Currently, Junaid Akbar, a PTI-affiliated independent lawmaker representing the largest opposition group, is serving as Chairperson of the PAC.

Since when are Election Commission appointments due?

The terms of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission members expired on January 26, 2025. Under Article 215(4) of the Constitution, appointments to these offices were required to be completed within 45 days of the positions falling vacant i.e. until March 12, 2025.

However, a proviso inserted into Article 215(1) through the 26th Constitutional Amendment allows the CEC and members to continue in office until their successors are appointed. Under this provision, the incumbent CEC and two Commission members have continued in office for nearly one year beyond the completion of their prescribed term. The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition may kickstart the process.

What other appointments are currently due?

In addition to Election Commission appointments, consultation with the Leader of the Opposition is also required for the appointment of the NAB Chairman under the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The term of the incumbent Chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Nazir Ahmad is set to expire in March 2026. He was appointed in March 2023 for a three-year term.

Under section 6(b) of the NAO 1999, the consultation between Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition for the appointment of NAB Chairman shall be initiated two months prior to the expiry of the term of the outgoing Chairman and shall be concluded within the period of 45 days.

Moreover, the appointment of the Chairperson NCSW is also due since 2024

Since when was the office of Leader of the Opposition vacant?

The office of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly has been vacant since August 2025 following the disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan after his conviction in cases related to the May 9, 2023 violence.

How is the Leader of the Opposition appointed?

The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition is governed by Chapter V of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, comprising Rules 39, 39A, and 39B. Rule 39 requires the Speaker to declare the Leader of the Opposition as early as possible after the election of the Prime Minister, following verification of signatures submitted in support of a nominee. The member securing the greatest numerical support is declared Leader of the Opposition.

Rule 39B provides that the same procedure shall apply whenever the office becomes vacant, while Rule 39A outlines the mechanism for removal from the office.

In January 2026, PTI-affiliated independent members on the opposition benches nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), for the position of Leader of the Opposition. As the sole nominee, he was notified by the National Assembly Secretariat as Leader of the Opposition on January 16, 2026 after verification of the supporting signatures. The process had remained pending earlier due to legal proceedings concerning the disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan.