The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday halted the appointment of new opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate until August 15, following the disqualification of PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz.

A division bench of the PHC issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the NA speaker, and the Senate chairman, directing them to refrain from further action or appointments in the case.

The petitioners, Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, were represented by PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who argued that on July 31, various party leaders, including Ayub, were sentenced in cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.

He said the ECP subsequently declared Ayub disqualified, but the commission had no authority to make decisions on assembly matters.

Barrister Gohar further contended that the opposition leader’s seat belonged to the opposition, not the government, and requested interim relief until August 15.

The court accepted the request, issued a stay order, and adjourned the hearing until August 15, seeking replies from the respondents.