January 1, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 27, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The large-scale desertions in the PPP ranks have prompted the lowly-placed PML-N to stake a claim to the prestigious slot of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.

Earlier, the competition for the office was between the PPP and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal. But the weakening position of the PPP has now enabled the PML-N to put a claim to the post.

Switching of sides by around 20 members has not only eroded the edge which the PPP has got over the MMA but has also strengthened the bargaining position of the PML-N significantly.

Officially the PML-N members have been maintaining that they have taken a principled stand on issues like the Legal Framework Order, revival of Constitution as it stood on Oct 12, 1999, and president’s position and would support only that party which would have closest stance to the PML-N on these issues.

“We will support only that party which will give us assurance that it would not compromise on these issues,” chief coordinator of PML-N Ahsan Iqbal told Dawn.

However, privately they have given indications to the PPP that they are ready to support its nominee for the slot of the Leader of the Opposition and be content with the post of deputy leader of opposition or they would throw their weight behind the MMA.

The PPP leaders said that the speaker of the National Assembly, who nominates Leader of the Opposition, has no choice but to offer the slot to the PPP nominee.

The speaker makes the offer on the basis of gazette notification issued by the Election Commission, showing the strength of different parties, PPP leader Izhar Amrohi told Dawn.

Though the office of the Leader of the Opposition is conventionally and traditionally considered as the most important after the Leader of the House, and entails certain perks and privileges, the recent constitutional amendments have made it more attractive as the Leader of the Opposition has been made a member of the National Security Council.

Interestingly, all the three main opposition parties which are vying for the slot oppose the National Security Council.

The National Assembly speaker has already asked the parliamentary parties to convey their preferences regarding the sitting arrangements to be made in the House.

The plan conveyed by the PPP to the assembly secretariat also included the names of those party members who had formed the Patriot group and joined the federal cabinet.