LAHORE: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) to remove National Assembly opposition leader Raja Riaz for holding the position without approval of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Advocate Azhar Siddique filed the petition stating that Raja Riaz was appointed opposition leader without the consultation of the PTI which is still the biggest party in the National Assembly as the speaker has not yet approved the resignations of their MNAs.

It stated that Raja Riaz was made the opposition leader with the collusion of the incumbent government by bypassing the rules and regulations and the appointment was aimed at making changes of their choice in the NAB and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The petition asked the court to remove Raja Riaz as the opposition leader.

PTI dissident MNA Raja Riaz was appointed opposition leader in National Assembly with the support of 17 lawmakers in May after 125 MNAs of the party resigned from their assembly seats. Riaz, along with GDA MNA Ghous Bakhsh Mahar, joined the race for the opposition leader’s slot following the withdrawal of PML-Q MNA Moonis Elahi.

The dissident PTI MNA had submitted an application signed by 17 lawmakers in the National Assembly secretariat for nominating him as the opposition leader.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2022