ISLAMABAD Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has been named the new leader of opposition in the National Assembly.

He replaces former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi.

A notification issued by the speaker's secretariat here on Wednesday said “On acceptance of the resignation of Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, who remained leader of the opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the PML-N has been appointed the new leader of opposition in the National Assembly from September 17." 

Mr Elahi was appointed leader of opposition by Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza soon after the first session of the National Assembly in May. 

Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, who is also the PML-Q Punjab president, is believed to have reached a deal with the PPP to dislodge the PML-N government in Punjab. His son Chaudhry Moonis Elahi might become a senior minister under the agreement. 

In case of success of the PPP-PML-Q deal and setting up of their coalition government in Punjab, the party is expected to also accept ministerial and other official positions in the centre, party sources say.
  

Meanwhile, some political analysts have raised eyebrows on the PML-Ns preference for Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan over the firebrand PML-N leader Javed Hashmi for the post; Hashmi had remained behind bars for over three years under Pervez Musharrafs rule.