ISLAMABAD, May 5: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Monday submitted to the National Assembly speaker a duly-signed list of 68 MNAs to claim the slot of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly which traditionally goes to the largest opposition group in the house.

Earlier, both the major opposition groups, the MMA and the PPP, were asked by Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain to submit duly-signed lists of the MNAs who support them so that a decision about the post of leader of the opposition could be taken.

MMA’s deputy parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed met Chaudhry Amir Hussain at the speaker’s chamber and handed over the list along with a formal request that since the alliance was the largest opposition group in the National Assembly its nominee should be appointed leader of the opposition.

People’s Party Parliamentarians chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim is the other claimant for the coveted office. The PPP, which also claims that it is the largest opposition group in the NA, has also submitted a list of its MNAs but without their signatures.

According to Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, the MMA enjoyed support of 68 MNAs, while the PPP had only 54 MNAs after defection of about two dozen of its legislators.

He said since no other party had submitted a list which could prove its majority in the 342-member lower house, the MMA had the first right to the office.