LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to federal and provincial governments, as well as attorney general and advocate general, over petition seeking to remove Raja Riaz from the post of opposition leader in the National Assembly.
It may be recalled that Raja Riaz was a dissident of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and was appointed as the opposition leader in the National Assembly (NA) after 125 PTI lawmakers resigned following the no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan in April this year.
He had the support of the 17 MNAs while competing against Ghous Bakhsh Mahar of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).
The petition was filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique which stated that Raja Riaz was appointed opposition leader without the consultation of the PTI which is still the biggest party in the legislature.
The federal government, prime minister, NA speaker, and others have been made respondents in the petition. The petitioner has maintained that making Riaz the opposition leader is a violation of the assembly rules. He pleaded with the court to order the removal of Raja Riaz as the opposition leader.
The petition was filed by one Munir Ahmed through Advocate Azhar Siddique, contending that the appointment of Raja Riaz as Opposition Leader is violation of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
He argued that all resignations recently presented in the National Assembly were not accepted and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not de-notified the members.
If the procedure was not completed then how the respondent was appointed as the opposition leader, the petitioner asked.
He submitted that Raja Riaz had submitted an application signed by 16 dissident lawmakers of the PTI in the National Assembly Secretariat for nominating him as the opposition leader.
The speaker, in pursuance of Rule 39, declared him as the Leader of the Opposition.
The speaker said it was announced in the house that any opposition lawmakers wishing to become the leader of the opposition could show their strength and submit the MNAs’ signatures to his office.
