Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan revealed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is contemplating resigning from legislative assemblies, citing a rapidly diminishing political space for the opposition party. He highlighted that while leaders from other parties such as PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif are freely campaigning in Gilgit-Baltistan, PTI members face severe restrictions.
Jan pointed out that several PTI leaders, including Junaid Akbar, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, and Shahid Khattak, have been prohibited from participating in election campaigns for the upcoming June 7 polls in the region. He explained that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s statement about stepping down from assemblies was made in response to these restrictions and the party’s expulsion from Gilgit-Baltistan.
When questioned about the party’s plans concerning resignations, the KP information minister stated that this move is only the initial step. He mentioned that a comprehensive meeting of the political committee is scheduled to discuss the issue further. Jan emphasized that although PTI desires to operate within the current political framework, the lack of any breathing room makes it increasingly difficult.
In a related development last week, PTI senior leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser warned that the party is seriously considering withdrawing from the political system unless a new Charter of Democracy is established. He stressed the importance of respecting PTI’s legal rights and electoral mandate, cautioning that failure to do so might compel the party to take drastic measures.
Addressing the possibility of mass resignations or dissolving the PTI-led KP Assembly, Qaiser acknowledged that multiple options exist for exiting the system. However, he clarified that no final decision has been reached yet. He reiterated that if the political environment remains unchanged, PTI may have no alternative but to withdraw from the system entirely.
