Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser has indicated that the party is seriously contemplating withdrawing from the political system. He emphasized the urgent need for a new Charter of Democracy in Pakistan to ensure fair political participation.
Qaiser’s remarks followed an incident where he was reportedly detained by police for 40 minutes, which prevented him from reaching Islamabad airport in time to catch a flight to Skardu. He was scheduled to participate in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) election campaign. The PTI leader criticized the upcoming GB elections, set for June 7, suggesting that the process lacked legitimacy. “It is better to make a selection than holding such polls,” he stated, questioning the fairness of the election.
Addressing the possibility of dialogue with the government, Qaiser reiterated PTI’s stance on establishing a Charter of Democracy. He explained that this charter would guarantee fresh, free, and fair elections conducted by an Election Commission trusted by all political parties. him, only such measures can enable the country to progress.
However, Qaiser warned that if PTI continues to be denied political space and its mandate is not respected, the party might opt to exit the system altogether. “We are striving to secure our legal rights, and our mandate must be respected. If not, we can take any decision,” he asserted.
When questioned about the possibility of mass resignations from the legislature or dissolving the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Qaiser said various options exist for leaving the system. Yet, no definitive decision has been made. He stressed that if the current political environment remains unchanged, PTI might have no alternative but to withdraw.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry addressed security measures in the twin cities, highlighting a “high alert” due to the presence of Australia’s cricket team in Rawalpindi. He dismissed PTI’s allegations of being denied a fair playing field, affirming that the government is committed to ensuring the credibility of the GB electoral process.
Regarding Qaiser’s detention, Talal Chaudhry explained that it was driven by security concerns and denied any intention to deliberately obstruct the PTI leader. “If the intention had been to stop Qaiser, there were many other ways to do so,” he remarked.
