• In his maiden speech, MWM leader calls for release of all political prisoners
• Barrister Ali Zafar terms Senate ‘now constitutionally complete’
• Rana Sanaullah welcomes new opposition leader’s ‘balanced’ tone; calls for dialogue, electoral reforms

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday finally declared Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as Leader of the Opposition, more than five months after the office fell vacant following the disqualification of Senator Shibli Faraz in August last year.

Mr Abbas, vice chairman of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), had been chosen by PTI founder Imran Khan as the opposition’s candidate for the seat.

“There being no legal bar, I now proceed in accordance with Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, and declare Raja Nasir Abbas as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, having secured the support of 22 out of 32 opposition members,” he ruled amid desk-thumping and slogans.

Mr Gilani directed the Senate Secretariat to issue a formal notification immediately, which was complied with.

The declaration came a day after PTI parliamentary leader in the house, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, wrote to the Senate chairman calling for the declaration of Raja Nasir Abbas as opposition leader at the earliest in the larger interest of parliamentary democracy and the proper functioning of the Senate. Mr Zafar had also met the Senate chairman and later disclosed that a notification for the appointment would be issued on Tuesday.

Explaining the delay, the Senate Chairman placed the legal and procedural background on record, saying that following the disqualification of Shibli Faraz by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Aug 5 and the consequential notification by the Senate Secretariat on Aug 8, the office of the opposition leader had fallen vacant.

He said the notification was challenged before the Peshawar High Court, which issued a restraining order prohibiting further action in the matter. In view of the pendency of judicial proceedings, the issue remained under consideration at the Senate Secreta­riat for legal examination and procedural guidance.

Mr Gilani added that the course adopted was in line with established parliamentary practice and constitutional discipline to ensure that no step conflicted with or rendered infructuous the proceedings before the court. “The earlier deferment was therefore procedural, occasioned by institutional prudence, due deference to judicial authority and the rule of law,” he remarked.

Speaking on the house floor, Barrister Ali Zafar said that with this appointment, the Senate now stood complete. He observed that the Senate functioned through the offices of the Chairman, the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and the members, and that one essential constitutional pillar had been missing which had now been duly put in place.

Release of political prisoners

In his address, the opposition leader acknowledged that he became a senator because of the PTI founder and declared himself a loyal companion of Mr Khan. He said he would never compromise on principles or violate the oath he had taken as a senator.

He also called on the Senate to speak up for the release of “political prisoners”.

“We want these innocent people to be released from jail so that political instability in Pakistan ends,” he said, adding that under the Constitution, only those had the right to rule who were voted into power by the people, not those rejected by them.

“The country cannot progress if you keep a popular leader in jail,” he asserted, adding: “Today, Imran Khan is a popular leader. The presence of a popular leader is necessary for nation-building,” he said.

He said governing the country was the job of politicians, recalling that some from the establishment had claimed they had nothing to do with politics.

Addressing treasury members, particularly PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah, he urged them to steer the country towards a better political situation. “May no one have to face the injustice that Imran Khan is facing. The case against you was unjust and you know who was behind those cases. When will we stop them?” he asked.

He said Pakistan was facing multiple challenges, including lawlessness, and that people no longer trusted a system devoid of justice. “Look at what has become of the judiciary. People are losing confidence in parliament and they no longer trust the executive. The people of Pakistan do not trust this system,” he said.

Referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr Abbas said the consequences of injustice were evident there. Alluding to the displacement of residents from Tirah during military operations, he asked how peace could be restored without the support of local people.

He called for collective wisdom in parliament, progress on cases against Imran Khan, and urged Pakistan to take a stand against US President Donald Trump over threats to Iran. He proposed convening sessions of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and neighbouring countries to oppose aggression in the region.

‘Balanced and positive’

Speaking after Mr Abbas, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah praised the opposition leader’s choice of words, calling his views “balanced and positive”.

Responding to remarks on the Feb 8 elections, he recalled similar allegations after the 2018 polls and said neither side could retreat from its position. He invited the opposition to engage with the government on electoral reforms. He also cited the Charter of Democracy signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in 2006, and stressed the need for dialogue, saying political issues could only be resolved through talks and parliament.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2026