Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to take strict disciplinary action against dissenting party members over the upcoming Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to sources, the party has made it clear that any member defying party decisions will face immediate consequences, including expulsion from PTI.
Speaking to Dunya News, Barrister Gohar Ali confirmed the decision and revealed that the dissenting members were called for a meeting yesterday (Friday) but failed to show up. “The Chief Minister and I waited for them, but they did not come,” he said.
He added that the matter was referred to the party’s political committee, which, after thorough consultation, directed the dissenting candidates to withdraw their nominations.
“The deadline for withdrawal is tomorrow at 12 PM. If they fail to comply, action will be taken under party discipline,” Gohar warned.
He emphasised that the dissenting candidates also hold party positions, and defying the political committee’s decision constitutes a violation of PTI’s internal code of conduct.
PTI faced internal disagreements and resistance during the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as veteran workers and leaders who were overlooked in the selection process announced protests.
According to sources, several leaders including Irfan Saleem, Ayesha Bano, Waqas Orakzai, and Khurram Zeeshan were displeased with the party leadership and protested over the distribution of Senate tickets. The protesting leaders claimed that the party failed to uphold the principles of justice by ignoring long-time workers.
The political committee of on Friday unanimously approved unopposed senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dunya News reported.
According to a declaration issued after the PTI political committee meeting, all candidates in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senate election will be elected unopposed while disgruntled PTI covering candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers after settling their issues with the party leadership.
After consultation with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa parliamentary party, a unanimous decision was made to prefer unopposed elections in order to put an end to the shameful practice of vote buying and selling.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa parliamentary party was given the authority to decide the electoral procedure by the PTI founder, and the party’s top leadership expressed full confidence to their decision.
The finalised candidates include Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Khan Afridi, and Pir Noorul Haq Qadri for the general seats. Rubina Naz has been nominated for the women’s reserved seat, Azam Swati for the technocrat seat, and Mishal Yousafzai has been nominated to fill the seat vacated by former senator Sania Nishtar.
As a result of the unopposed elections, PTI will secure six Senate seats, while the opposition will get five seats. Among the opposition, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) will each get two seats, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will get one seat.
Senate elections for 11 seats from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be held on July 21. The seats include seven general seats, two reserved for women, and two designated for technocrats and religious scholars (‘ulema’).