ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers have launched a mass resignation drive from the National Assembly’s standing committees, in line with party founder Imran Khan’s directive.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan submitted 18 resignations to the Speaker’s Office, marking the large-scale withdrawals of the opposition lawmakers from parliamentary committees.
Barrister Gohar himself resigned from four key committees — law and justice, human rights, information technology, and the house business advisory committee. He also submitted resignations on behalf of other PTI members.
Those who stepped down 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 PTI leaders Shehryar Afridi, Mobeen Arif Jatt, Usama Maila, and Sher Afzal Marwat also tendered their resignations. Afridi stepped down from two committees, while Mobeen Jatt resigned from the commerce, finance, and industries committees.
Earlier, Junaid Akbar relinquished his position as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), while PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram quit PAC and the Information Committee.
Confirming his decision on X, Akram stated: “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 his resignation note posted on X, declared unwavering loyalty to Imran Khan: “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 the service of the people.”
Party insiders confirmed that all resignations were submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat after consultation with the PTI leadership.
The directive for mass resignations comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified several PTI leaders following their conviction in cases linked to the May 9 riots.
Observers say the wave of resignations is expected to significantly impact the functioning and performance of the parliamentary committees.
