ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday resigned from four standing committees of the National Assembly in line with directives from the party’s founder, Imran Khan.
Mr Gohar stepped down from the committees on Law and Justice, Human Rights, Information Technology, and House Business Advisory, joining a growing list of PTI lawmakers quitting parliamentary bodies. At least 18 PTI MNAs have so far tendered their resignations.
The move is part of the former ruling party’s strategy, which also includes boycotting the upcoming by-elections in constituencies where PTI members were recently disqualified.
Resignations began after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified a large number of PTI leaders in July and August over their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.
Among those who have resigned are MNAs Faisal Amin Gandapur, Shaharyar Afridi, Junaid Akbar Khan, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Amir Dogar, Ali Asghar, Sajid Khan, Shahid Khattak, Faisal Khan, and Asif Khan.
Mr Asghar resigned from the Cabinet, Privatisation, and Planning committees, while Mr Sajid Khan quit the Overseas, National Heritage, and Kashmir Affairs panels, even declaring he would vacate his assembly seat if instructed.
Mr Faisal stepped down from the Economic Affairs, Food Security, and Parliamentary Task Force committees, while Mr Khattak withdrew from all standing committees. Mr Asif left the Education, National Heritage, Culture, and Information and Broadcasting committees.
Separately, Mr Junaid Akbar resigned as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, submitting his resignation to party chief whip Amir Dogar. Party sources confirmed that NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has received the resignations of Faisal and Asghar.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan also instructed party members to withdraw from the Judicial Commission, terming PTI’s participation ineffective. Barrister Gohar and Senator Ali Zafar currently sit on the commission.
The PTI has further announced it will boycott the upcoming by-elections, declaring disqualified members as its “true representatives.” In contrast, the ruling coalition — PML-N and PPP — has decided to jointly contest the polls nationwide.
