Pakistan Muslim League (N) has nominated its Parliamentary Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and formally filed an application with the Speaker National Assembly seeking the official notification.
"After PML-N decided to sit on opposition benches in National Assembly and Senate, we have a right to get leader of the opposition, as we are major opposition party," PML-N leaders Zahid Hamid, Haneef Abbasi and Abid Sher Ali said while talking to media outside the Parliament House.
The appointment of opposition leader from majority party is a part of the democratic process and not the question of pick and choose for the Speaker, they said, adding that there was no chance of 1990s like confrontation between the PPP and PML-N. They said that the application has been filed under Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business and under this rule, Chaudhry Nisar should be nominated as opposition leader.
Answering another question about the PPP ministers' withdrawal from Punjab cabinet, they said that as the PML-N has withdrawn from the coalition in principle, PPP has been requested to quit its cabinet in the Punjab. Meanwhile, NA secretariat sources said that the Speaker would be giving her final decision on the request. Until the acceptance of the resignations of the PML-N federal ministers, they would continue to be considered part of the government and only after the acceptance of resignations; PML-N opposition leader would be appointed.