QUETTA, March 18: The Balochistan High Court suspended on Monday a notification issued by the speaker of the provincial assembly appointing Maulana Abdul Wasey of the JUI-F as leader of opposition.

The notification was issued by Speaker Matiullah Agha on late Sunday night.

A division bench comprising BHC Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan asked Nawabzada Tariq Magsi to continue to perform as leader of opposition.

In his petition Mr Magsi said Maulana Wasey had been a senior minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani for five years. He contended that the speaker had issued the notification at a time when the process of installing a caretaker government in Balochistan was under way.

He said the move was illegal also because the resignation of Maulana Wasey was yet to be accepted by the governor.

The court ordered the deputy attorney general and advocate general of Balochistan to appear before it on Tuesday.

Tariq Magsi was appointed leader of opposition on Dec 18 last year by then speaker Aslam Bhootani. But Speaker Matiullah de-notified the appointment which was challenged by Mr Magsi in the BHC.

The court had nullified the speaker’s decision and reinstated Mr Magsi.