ISLAMABAD, March 12: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) continues to lay claim to the office of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly even after an unceremonious exit of both opposition groups from the opposition leader's chamber which they tried to occupy on Thursday without any official invitation.

The importance of the appointment of an opposition leader has been increased manifold after the cabinet decided to bring the National Security Council (NSC) bill in the current session of the National Assembly.

After the passage of this bill, the opposition leader would become an NSC member.

The MMA claims to be the largest opposition group in the National Assembly after the 2002 elections it contested as one party. But the ARD lay claim to the opposition leader's office on the basis of their larger numerical strength as alliance.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal deputy parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed told reporters at the Parliament House on Friday that it was a challenge for the speaker and the government to decide once and for all as to who had support of the majority in the opposition groups.

He said it was an eye-opener for the speaker and the assembly secretariat that the chamber of the leader of the opposition was occupied forcibly.

Asked whether the MMA was likely to join the Jamali government, Mr Hussain said his alliance wanted due representation on the house committees and representation of all parties proportionate to their numerical strength in the house.