ISLAMABAD: Dissident Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Raja Riaz has been elected as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly with the support of 16 lawmakers.
Riaz joined the race for the opposition leader’s slot along with GDA MNA Ghous Bakhsh Mahar. He submitted an application, signed by 17 lawmakers, in the National Assembly secretariat, nominating him as the opposition leader.
On the other hand, Mahar could only muster the support of six lawmakers on his application.
After reviewing the competing applications, NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf announced the results and declared Riaz as successful.
Earlier, PML-Q’s Moonis Elahi had withdrawn his candidature as the opposition leader, paving way for a one-on-one contest between Mahar and Riaz.
The opposition leader’s seat had fallen vacant after Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the prime minister following the ouster of Imran Khan through a vote of no-confidence in the NA.
