ISLAMABAD: In compliance with the Political Committee’s decision, at least 18 legislators belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including its Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Sher Afzal Khan Marwat have resigned from four National Assembly standing committees.
The party chairman submitted his resignation to the office of National Assembly Speaker and briefly talked to the media. He explained that he had resigned from the standing committees of Law and Justice, Human Rights, Information Technology (IT) and House Business Advisory. On the instructions of PTI founder chairman Imran Khan, the Political Committee in its meeting had decided to step down from the chairmanship and membership of the NA standing committees while its senior leader Junaid Akbar had also resigned as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
So far, PTI members Junaid Akbar, Aamir Dogar, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Shehryar Afridi, Asif Khan, Faisal Amin Gandapur and Ali Asghar Khan are among those who have complied with the Political Committee’s decision.
Speaking to the media, Gohar said that he had resigned from four committees. “We tried very hard to remain a part of the system and make the system work, we had 180 seats, we had a majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, we sat with 91 seats in the National Assembly,” he maintained.
The PTI chairman said that their people were martyred, the founder of PTI was unjustly imprisoned “but Imran Khan and we have said, come talk, it is not too late”. However, he said no negotiations are taking place with anyone anywhere right now.
In a related development, firebrand MNA Sher Afzal Khan Marwat formally resigned from four National Assembly standing committees.
Marwat was expelled from the party in February this year for allegedly violating party policy and discipline. However, he was recently invited to a PTI parliamentary party meeting, where his possible return was discussed. A recommendation regarding his rejoining was to be sent to Imran Khan, but no final decision has been announced. Marwat’s basic party membership had been restored after a meeting with Imran Khan in mid-2023. He was again suspended in 2024 on similar grounds.
In a message posted on social media, Marwat said, “Following the directives of Chairman Imran Khan, I have formally resigned from all four standing committees of the National Assembly.” He added that although he personally disagreed with the decision, he accepted it in the interest of party unity and to meet the expectations of PTI workers. “Copies of my resignations have also been sent to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan,” he wrote.