Islamabad [Pakistan]: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday expressed concern over the government’s delay in officially recognising his party’s nominees — Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas — as opposition leaders in Parliament, Dawn reported.
In a post shared on his official X account, Khan said, “The continued delay in issuing notifications for Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as Leaders of the Opposition is deeply concerning. I demand that they be immediately notified as Leaders of the Opposition in the Senate and the National Assembly, respectively.”
Although Khan remains imprisoned, Dawn noted that it is unclear who currently operates his social media account, though the PTI founder has never disowned any of the posts shared from it.
The post also praised recent political rallies, saying large public turnouts in Charsadda, Khyber, and Karak showed “growing public awareness and commitment to protecting their rights.” Khan thanked the organisers for their “successful outreach efforts.”
According to Dawn, Khan urged PTI members and supporters to intensify their efforts in collaboration with the Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Aaeen-i-Pakistan movement, stressing that the party “must now accelerate the struggle for true freedom.”
Addressing internal matters, Khan clarified that all official party communication should come exclusively through Secretary General Salman Akram Raja to prevent “confusion or miscommunication.”
He also reaffirmed his trust in senior party members Ahmad Chattha and Bilal Ejaz, stating, “They are my long-standing and loyal companions. I have not issued any orders for their removal.”
Separately, PTI Central Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and urged the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take “immediate and collective action” to stop Israel’s aggression.
The party also criticised the Adiala Jail administration for allegedly violating court orders regarding Khan’s visitation rights. Akram said that despite clear directives from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi and others were denied access. He urged the IHC to take strict action against those responsible and to ensure Khan’s right to meet his family, legal team, and political aides.
Meanwhile, a PTI delegation met Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad. PTI leader Asad Qaiser told Dawn that he had proposed holding a national jirga to address Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security challenges, which Maulana Fazlur Rehman supported.
The delegation also discussed strengthening opposition unity in Parliament and reaffirmed PTI’s decision to nominate Mahmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition. The party further sought JUI-F’s support for a vacant Senate seat from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dawn added.
