The PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance has formally nominated Omar Ayub Khan for the leader of the opposition by submitting his documents to the office of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

The nomination papers were submitted by Malik Amir Dogar in the presence of SIC supremo Sahib­zada Hamid Raza, MNAs Ali Mohammad Khan, Riaz Fatyana, Dr Nisar Ahmad Jatt and others.

While talking to Dawn, Dr Jatt, who defeated PML-N’s stalwart Rana Sanaullah in general elections, said: “All the members supported by the PTI have signed the nomination papers.

“As per my information, Mehmood Khan Achakzai has also signed the document. However, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Balochistan National Party-Mengal have not signed it.”

By not signing the documents for Ayub’s nomination, the JUI-F and BNP-M will be under no legal obligation to boycott any session of the National Assembly on the call of opposition leader.

Responding to a question, Dr Jatt expressed the hope that Ayub would become the opposition leader in the NA through nomination, instead of election, on March 13 or 14.