ISLAMABAD; Internal rifts within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have surfaced once again, this time over the decision to resign from National Assembly standing and parliamentary committees. While party leadership has pushed for a collective withdrawal, several lawmakers remain reluctant, terming the move politically damaging.
On Thursday, 18 opposition MNAs including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, submitted their resignations to the Speaker’s Office. The list of lawmakers who stepped down includes Amjad Ali Khan, Subzada Sibghatullah, Mehboob Shah, Junaid Akbar, Gohar Ali Khan, Shehzada Gustasp, Ali Khan Jadoon, Mujahid Ali, Malik Anwar Taj, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Sajid Khan, Arbab Amir Ayub, Asif Khan, Waqas Akram Sheikh, Arshad Sahibzada, Amir Dogar, Shabbir Ali Qureshi, and Owais Jhakar. The Speaker’s Office has confirmed receipt of the resignations.
However, a sizeable group within PTI has resisted the call, arguing that parliamentary committees serve as crucial platforms for raising public concerns and holding the government accountable. According to insiders, some lawmakers fear that abandoning these forums will weaken the opposition’s ability to challenge government policies, effectively ceding space at a critical time.
The dispute recalls earlier divisions within PTI over mass resignations from the National Assembly in 2022 following Imran Khan’s ouster, when several members either withheld their resignations or later sought to return, exposing cracks within the party’s strategy. Analysts suggest that the current discord over committee resignations reflects a continuing lack of consensus in PTI’s parliamentary approach.
Political observers believe this internal divide could offer temporary relief to the government by diluting opposition pressure inside the House. PTI leadership, meanwhile, insists that efforts are underway to bring all lawmakers on board and adopt a unified stance in the coming days.
