Islamabad/Peshawar; Lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have begun resigning from various standing committees of the National Assembly, in compliance with fresh directives from the party’s founder Imran Khan. The move is being seen as part of a broader political strategy that also includes boycotting the upcoming by-elections scheduled over the next few months.
Several MNAs have already stepped down from their assignments. Among them, Ali Asghar resigned from the Cabinet, Privatisation, and Planning committees, while Sajid Khan quit the Overseas Pakistanis, National Heritage, and Kashmir committees. Sajid went further, declaring that he was even ready to vacate his National Assembly seat if Imran Khan instructed him to do so.
Faisal Amin Khan, the brother of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, resigned from the Economic Affairs, Food Security, and Parliamentary Task Force committees. Shahid Khattak announced he was relinquishing membership of all standing committees, while Asif Khan stepped down from the Education, National Heritage, Culture, and Information and Broadcasting committees.
Separately, MNA Junaid Akbar resigned as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, formally submitting his resignation to the party’s chief whip, Amir Dogar, in line with directives issued by PTI’s political committee. Party sources confirmed that National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has officially received the resignations of Faisal Amin Khan and Ali Asghar.
PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram has also withdrawn from all National Assembly committees, sending his resignation directly to Speaker Sadiq.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan has instructed senior PTI leaders to withdraw from the Judicial Commission as well, terming the party’s participation in it “ineffective.” Party insiders say that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and Senator Ali Zafar were told to step down, though sources add that Barrister Gohar has so far denied resigning from the body.
This latest wave of resignations mirrors PTI’s earlier boycott strategy: in 2023, the party dissolved the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies in protest against the then PDM-led coalition government in Islamabad.
In addition to withdrawing from parliamentary forums, PTI has announced that it will not contest the upcoming by-elections in constituencies where its lawmakers were disqualified over their alleged involvement in the May 9 incidents. The party has described those disqualified as its “true representatives,” framing the boycott as a continuation of its protest against what it claims is political victimization.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recently disqualified several PTI lawmakers following their convictions in connection with the May 9 riots, creating multiple vacant seats. The ruling coalition partners — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — have already announced they will contest those by-elections together, setting the stage for a nationwide political battle.
