SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza formally announced the nominations.

“It is the height of lawlessness that our MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal, nominated for the post of opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, is not even being allowed to take the oath,” he said.

“With the consultation of Mian Aslam Iqbal, Malik Ahmed Bhachar has temporarily been nominated as the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly,” he added.

“Moeen Riaz Qureshi has been nominated as the deputy opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly. Mian Aslam Iqbal will be the opposition leader after taking the oath,” he stated.

It is to be noted here that on March 7, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Lahore declared six accused including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders – Mian Aslam Iqbal and Hamad Azhar proclaimed offenders (POs) in the case of arson outside Rahat Bakery.