KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh on Friday formally approached the chief minister for initiating key consultation on appointment of the caretaker chief minister while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan also officially approached Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani to make their candidate Rana Ansar opposition leader.

The MQM-P bid to replace Opposition Leader Sheikh of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) weeks before the completion of five-year term of the Sindh Assembly faced the first test when another opposition party, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), also jumped in with a nominee for the crucial office.

First came a video statement of Mr Sheikh claiming that he was still the Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly saying that he had written to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah seeking time and schedule for a meeting to discuss the caretaker set-up, which is due to takeover next month when the provincial government will complete its five-year term.

He also questioned the nomination of Rana Ansar from the MQM-P for the office of opposition leader saying that since he was already there no one could replace him without following a due procedure.

“There’s a formal procedure which requires certain number [of MPAs] to appoint new Opposition Leader,” he said in the statement.

Like many PTI leaders, the opposition leader has also gone into hiding fearing his arrest after May 9 incidents.

He did not even attend the budget session of the Sindh Assembly.

“I am still the Opposition Leader and the claims of the ruling party and their allies that I am not available are false. Today, I personally wrote to the Sindh chief minister and requested him to set the time, place and date for the meeting to hold consultation on caretaker setup. I would be there at any cost. You may arrest me and send me to prison after that meeting. I am the Opposition Leader and if the MQM wants to bring its opposition leader, it would have to complete the number and follow the set rules. Otherwise we would move to the court against all these unconstitutional moves.”

At the Sindh Assembly, the MQM-P formally filed a request to Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani for appointment of Ms Ansar as opposition leader.

It also informed the Speaker about appointment of its legislator Ali Khursheed as the party’s parliamentary leader in the house to replace Ms Ansar after her nomination as opposition leader.

Speaking to journalists, Speaker Durrani said that he had also received a similar request from the GDA vowing that he would follow the set rules for the appointment of opposition leader.

He had also sought legal opinion of assembly secretary in this regard, he added.

Later, talking to reporters senior MQM-P leader Dr. Farooq Sattar said that the party had decided to bring its opposition leader only to prevent a constitutional crisis ahead of the next general elections.

“Practically there’s no opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly. So we decided to come forward to fill the gap as the opposition leader is crucial for shaping up the caretaker set-up before the general elections,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023