After existing as the opposition largely in name only within parliament, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday formally requested the appointment of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. It is a necessary step, and one that comes far too late. Whatever disagreements PTI and its allies may have with the government, abandoning the basic responsibilities of a parliamentary opposition is a serious failure that has weakened the functioning of the legislature itself.

A credible opposition does not merely exist to protest. It debates legislation, participates in committees, questions policy, and holds the government accountable through institutional means. When these roles are left vacant,........

© The Nation (Editorials)