ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a sweeping resignation campaign from the National Assembly’s standing committees, following direct instructions from party founder Imran Khan.
On Thursday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan submitted 18 resignations to the Speaker’s Office, formalizing the withdrawal of opposition lawmakers from key parliamentary bodies. Gohar himself stepped down from four influential committees law and justice, human rights, information technology, and the house business advisory committee while also filing resignations on behalf of several other members.
Those resigning from chairmanships and memberships include Junaid Akbar, Sahibzada Saifullah, Mahboob Shah, Shahzada Gustasab, Ali Jadoon, Mujahid Ali, Malik Anwar Taj, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Sajid Khan, Arbab Amir Ayub, Asif Khan, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Arshad Sahi, Malik Amir Dogar, Shabbir Ali Qureshi, and Awais Jhakkar. Senior figures such as Shehryar Afridi, Mobeen Arif Jatt, Usama Maila, and Sher Afzal Marwat also quit their posts. Afridi resigned from two committees, while Jatt withdrew from commerce, finance, and industries.
Earlier this week, Junaid Akbar had already relinquished his role as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), while PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram resigned from both PAC and the Information Committee.
Confirming his step-down in a post on X, Akram said: “Following the instructions of our leader Imran Khan, I submitted my resignation this morning from the Public Accounts Committee and the Information Committee.”
Similarly, Malik Amir Dogar, in a note shared on X, reaffirmed his loyalty to Khan, stating: “I hereby resign from the National Assembly’s standing committees in accordance with the directive of my leader Imran Khan. The sole purpose of my politics is to carry forward his mission true independence of Pakistan and service to the people.”
Party insiders confirmed that the resignations were tendered collectively to the National Assembly Secretariat after detailed consultations within the PTI leadership.
The move comes on the heels of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualifying several PTI leaders in cases related to the May 9 riots. Analysts believe the coordinated resignations could significantly weaken the effectiveness of parliamentary committees, leaving a noticeable gap in their functioning.
