Mahmood Khan Achakzai: A Half-Century Struggle and Nomination as Leader of the Opposition

The nomination of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the Leader of the Opposition by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is not merely a political ploy, but rather a recognition in Pakistan’s parliamentary history of a leader who has spent over half a century standing firm against a powerful establishment in the struggle for democracy, the constitution, and the sanctity of the vote.**

While PTI workers are celebrating this decision, supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) are criticizing the nomination, referencing old speeches and statements by Murad Saeed. But the real question is: *Why did Imran Khan choose Achakzai?* The answer lies in his uncompromising character within the current assembly. He is the only leader whose speeches have been banned for over a year and a half—under the orders of the Speaker of the National Assembly, his speeches cannot be broadcast live, are not included in the official assembly record, nor are they uploaded to digital platforms. This ban is proof that his voice is the most intolerable to the powerful quarters.

It must also be remembered that when Imran Khan was marching on Islamabad with his sit-in against the Nawaz Sharif government, it was Mahmood Khan Achakzai who stood up in Parliament and called it a conspiracy by institutions. When the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif, he was the first leader to arrive at Punjab House and stood by Nawaz Sharif, openly challenging the establishment. In December 2017, when Nawaz Sharif was disqualified, while members of his party were enjoying power, it was Achakzai who held a historic rally in Quetta and invited Nawaz Sharif to participate. His presence on stage with Nawaz Sharif at that historic Quetta rally is testimony that he stands by democracy in times of hardship.

But this is no new chapter. This tradition of resistance began with his father, the martyred Khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, who spent much of his life in prison, whether for leading movements against the British or against military regimes in Pakistan. He was an early supporter of the 1973 Constitution and was martyred for his democratic struggle. Mahmood Achakzai took on this legacy after 1970 and turned the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party into a strong democratic force.

During General Zia’s martial law, he played a key role in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD). In 1988 and 1990, he was elected to the National Assembly and consistently championed parliamentary supremacy and provincial autonomy. He spoke openly against Musharraf’s 2002 referendum, and in 2008, he boycotted elections alongside Imran Khan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Akhtar Mengal, and others—standing firm on principle. In 2013, his party emerged as the largest in the Balochistan Assembly, but the powerful forces prevented them from forming a government. Ultimately, in 2017, his support for Nawaz Sharif resulted in the downfall of his coalition government.

In both the 2018 and 2024 elections, Pashtunkhwa MAP won several seats with overwhelming majorities, but the results were altered to weaken their public mandate. Despite all this, Achakzai stood firm with Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and other parties on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) platform to continue the fight for democracy. The historic Quetta rally—where Nawaz Sharif addressed from London and Maryam Nawaz attended despite pressure—was held under his leadership. To this day, he maintains the position that Pakistan’s real battle is for democracy and the sanctity of the vote.

### In light of this long history, Imran Khan’s decision is not a short-term strategy, but a recognition that Mahmood Khan Achakzai is the only voice in Parliament representing a politics rooted in sacrifice, principle, and public sovereignty, spanning over half a century. His nomination is, in fact, a tribute to that chapter of Pakistan’s history defined not by compromises and reconciliations, but by resistance and unwavering principles.