PESHAWAR, May 16: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have been making every effort to capture the slot of the opposition leader in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Sources said JUI-F and PML-N, which had narrow difference in the number of seats in the House, were lobbying to secure the slot of the opposition leader in the 124-member House.

They said both parties would have to rely on independent members, Pakistan People’s Party and Awami National Party for the purpose.

As for the parties’ position in the assembly after the May 11 elections, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf has 35 seats, JUI-F 13, PML-N 12, Jamaat-i-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party seven each, Awami National Party five, Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan three, Pakistan People’s Party two, All Pakistan Muslim League one and 13 independents.

The PTI strength reached 36 on Thursday after independent MPA-elect from Kohistan Abdul Haq Khan announced to join it.

Three parties, including JI, QWP and AJIP, and five independent MPAs-elect have decided to join PTI-led coalition government in the province, while the rest of the parties will sit on opposition benches.

Section 2 (l) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules says: “Leader of the Opposition” means the Member who, in the opinion of the Speaker, is for the time being the Leader in the House of the largest Party in Opposition.

An official in the assembly secretariat said the speaker could invite anyone enjoying support of most opposition members in the House to hold the opposition leader’s office.

Leader of the opposition enjoys perks and privileges, including separate chamber in the assembly secretariat and security.

Sources said former provincial chief ministers Akram Khan Durrani of JUI-F and Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi of PML-N and their parties were lobbying for the slot.

Mr Durrani has been nominated parliamentary leader of JUI-F in the assembly, while PML-N is going to name Mr Abbasi its party parliamentary leader.

Mr Durrani was the opposition leader in the last assembly.

When contacted, PML-N lawmaker-elect from Abbottabad Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota said Mehtab Abbasi would be the contender for the slot of the opposition leader.

He said five independent MPAs-elect were expected to support Mr Abbasi’s candidature and that All Pakistan Muslim League member Ghulam Mohammad from Chitral district would also support Mr Abbasi.

“If it is found necessary, our party will contact PPP and ANP to garner their support for the slot of the opposition leader,” said Mr Nalota.

However, eight independent MPAs-elect will play the decisive role in the selection of the opposition leader.

The group of independents has formed ‘United Front’ with Israrullah Khan Gandapur its parliamentary leader.

Javed Akbar Khan, an MPA-elect from Tank, said United Front would support JUI-F nominee Akram Khan Durrani for the office of the opposition leader.