LAHORE: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday said that consultations are held within the party, but the final decision rests with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking to the media at the Lahore High Court, Mr Tarar said the Constitution and the law clearly prescribe the procedure for the appointment of the opposition leader.

To a query about the alleged role of Nawaz Sharif in the appointment of the opposition leader in the National Assembly, he said the process for appointing Mehmood Khan Achakzai as opposition leader had been completed under the leadership of the speaker.

He said that Mr Achakzai is a seasoned politician and that Nawaz Sharif values his long-standing political associates.

The law minister said the issue of appointing the opposition leader in the Senate would also be resolved soon.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken about negotiations on the very day he took the oath of office, adding that the government had proposed setting aside other matters to focus on a “Charter of Economy.”

To a query about meetings with incarcerated PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, the law minister said meetings in jail are a legal matter.

He said a convicted person is kept in prison to prevent participation in day-to-day political affairs.

“What is not possible directly cannot be done indirectly either,” Mr Tarar asserted, adding that Supreme Court judgements also make it clear that a convicted person cannot run the country’s politics.

He said it was beyond understanding why the opposition insists on consulting the PTI founder on every matter, adding that political affairs also have defined procedures.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026