KARACHI: After switching over to the treasury benches formally on Tuesday by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement from the opposition seats, the remaining three parties in the opposition the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional with 11 MPAs, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz with 10 MPAs and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf with four MPAs are striving to form a joint opposition in the house of 168 legislators to play an effective role in the assembly.

In this connection their parliamentary party leaders had initial contacts with one another but the decision, according to their legislators, would be taken by their high command on Thursday, their party leaders told Dawn.

However, when speal(er of the Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani was asked if he had received any letter claiming nomination for the most sought-af-ter position in the assembly after the leader of the house, Mr Durrani said he hadyettogetaletterinthat regard. But if he got a letter from any party to seek the office, he would decide on it on Friday when the house would resume business after a two-day break.

In reply to a question, parliamentary party affairs minister Dr Sikander Mandhro told Dawn that in view of the party position in the house, the PML-F had the lead of one member over the PML-N. `I am not aware sofariftheyhavereacheda conclusion in their reported consultations,` he said and added that there was no need for the MQM to formally apply for the allocation of seats on the treasury benches as after administering of oath by their ministers their position was quite clear.

A PTI meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Islamabad which would decide whether their parliamentary group will continue to stay away from a joint opposition or will become part ofa joint opposition.

However, there are strong signals from their legislators that they would prefer to back the nominee of the PML-F which by virtue of its strength could rightly claim the bench reservedforleader ofthe opposition.

But it was not yet clear who was the stronger contender among the PML-F lawmakers as Jam Madad Ali, an experienced parliamentarian and former leader of the opposition, was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

The other strong candidate could be Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, who is reportedly trying to occupy the seat of leader of the opposition. However, Pir Pagara, who is president of the party, has scuttled the move saying that there were other lawmakers in the party who also deserved to hold some position as Mr Shaikh was not only a special assistant to the prime minister but also a member on the standing committee of the assembly on mines andminerals.

The PML-F is likely to finalise the name on Thursday.

When PML-N parliamentary party leader Irfanullah Khan Marwat was asked if he was also in the run for leader of the opposition with the support of PTI legislators, he said his party was in favour of having a joint opposition to play an effective role in the house.

`We have made initial contacts with other opposition parties in the house but any decision likely at the earliest could be tomorrow,` he said.

But circles close to Arbab Ghulam Rahim, former chief minister, indicated that he was also in the run for leader of the opposition as he was trying to win over support of the PTI lawmale ers and was also in contact with the party high command in that connection.

But the political analysts are of the view that his long absence from the assembly was a big obstacle to winning support from the party high-ups and the PTI.