ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: The special committee on rules of procedure for the National Assembly on Monday decided to define the qualification and criterion of appointment of the opposition leader.

A controversy was generated over the appointment of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's Maulana Fazlur Rahman as opposition leader when the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy contested the move on the ground that it enjoyed the support of more MNAs than the religious alliance.

The committee, in its meeting, presided over by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, deliberated upon various aspects of the matter and decided to discuss that in its next sitting from Dec 6 to 8.

Dr Niazi told Dawn that the committee felt it necessary to define the procedural aspect for the selection and appointment of a leader of the opposition by removing ambiguity to end the controversy.