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Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Senate polls in KP: Members defying party line face expulsion: PTI
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Saturday said it would take strict disciplinary action, including possible expulsions, against party members defying internal decisions ahead of Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI acting chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told reporters that several dissenting members failed to appear at a scheduled meeting a day ago and had ignored directives to withdraw their nominations. 'The Chief Minister [Gandapur] and I waited for them, but they did not come,' he said. The party has referred the issue to its political committee, which, following internal consultations, instructed dissenting candidates to pull out by Sunday. 'If they fail to comply, action will be taken under party discipline,' Gohar said, adding that the individuals in question hold formal positions within PTI. 13 vacant seats in KP, Punjab: ECP to hold Senate polls this month The internal rift comes as PTI seeks to consolidate control in the Senate through unopposed elections in the provincial assembly. According to party sources, veteran PTI members, including Irfan Saleem, Ayesha Bano, Waqas Orakzai, and Khurram Zeeshan, voiced dissatisfaction over the allocation of Senate tickets, accusing the leadership of sidelining long-time workers. Despite the unrest, the party's political committee has approved a plan for unopposed elections in the province. A declaration following the committee's meeting stated that all candidates had withdrawn their papers after resolving differences with party leaders. PTI leadership said the decision, taken in consultation with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa parliamentary party, aimed to curb vote buying and selling - an issue that has marred past Senate polls in the country. The final list of PTI-backed candidates includes Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Afridi, and Noorul Haq Qadri for general seats. Rubina Naz was nominated for the women's reserved seat, Azam Swati for the technocrat seat, and Mishal Yousafzai for the seat vacated by former senator Sania Nishtar. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI expels five MNAs for backing 26th amendment, seeks disqualification
Listen to article The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday formally expelled five of its National Assembly members for defying party directions and voting in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment — a move the party termed a 'flagrant breach of oath, loyalty, and parliamentary discipline.' The expulsions were confirmed through formal notifications issued by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. The lawmakers — Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Zahoor Elahi, Usman Ali, Mubarak Zeb, and Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry — were elected on PTI tickets and, according to the party, had pledged to uphold its parliamentary stance. An official PTI statement said the party's parliamentary meeting on September 2, 2024, had unanimously decided to oppose the 26th Amendment at all stages. These instructions were submitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly on September 5 for record. However, on October 21, the five lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, enabling the government to pass it with 225 votes — just one above the required 224. Following the vote, PTI issued show-cause notices to the MNAs on November 5, asking why they should not be disqualified for defection and breach of party discipline under Articles 62 and 63. A hearing committee was formed but none of the lawmakers responded or appeared. The party further alleged that the MNAs had joined another parliamentary party by taking seats on the treasury benches and attending its meetings, which it says constitutes formal defection under constitutional provisions. Read More: Gandapur says Imran Khan ready for talks with decision-makers 'You are hereby declared to have violated your commitment, oath, and loyalty to the party,' the notification read. 'You voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2024, and by conduct have joined another parliamentary party. You are therefore expelled from the party forthwith.' The PTI leadership has also requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to initiate proceedings for the disqualification of the five MNAs under Article 63A of the Constitution. The five MNAs had voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which enabled the government to secure 225 votes — one above the 224 required for passage. The 26th Amendment introduced significant changes to Pakistan's judicial structure, including revisions to the process of judicial appointments, the tenure of the Chief Justice, and the composition of the Judicial Commission.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur, Gohar lead PTI convoy to Lahore as party mobilises protest drive
A high-profile convoy led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan arrived in Lahore on Saturday, signaling what party officials described as the beginning of a renewed political movement. The visit came amid heightened police presence, arrests of party workers, and escalating tensions with the Punjab government. The convoy, which departed from Islamabad earlier in the day, arrived at the Raiwind Road farmhouse of former Deputy Senate Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi, located near the Sharif family estate in Lahore. A dinner and strategic meetings of PTI's parliamentary committees were scheduled at the venue. According to party insiders, the discussions were expected to center on protest planning and legislative responses to the recent suspension of PTI lawmakers from the Punjab Assembly. Given the prevailing political climate in both Punjab and K-P, the meeting is being viewed as politically significant. Talks are also expected to address future political strategy and the potential for alliances between regional power blocs. The convoy's arrival at Shahdara Morr was met with a heavy deployment of Punjab police. According to PTI sources, officers arrested four party workers, including Lahore-based ticket holder Engineer Yasir Gilani. Although Gilani was later released, the arrests fueled fresh accusations of political harassment by the PTI leadership. Media access to the site was restricted, and a scheduled press interaction was reportedly cancelled due to security concerns. Addressing supporters prior to departure, Gandapur said the convoy symbolised peaceful solidarity with the 26 suspended PTI legislators. 'This is not a protest in the conventional sense, but a democratic show of unity,' he said. 'We bring with us a message of peace, brotherhood, and constitutional respect.' He added that his government had formally notified the Punjab administration of their plans and travel route. 'Our elected representatives are being silenced through unconstitutional and undemocratic tactics,' Gandapur said. 'Political arrests will not derail our resolve to uphold democratic values and the public's right to representation.' Earlier in Jhelum, Gandapur stated that the leadership was formulating a roadmap to sustain the movement through at least August 5. 'We want consensus through consultation. Our leadership and workers are in jail, but our commitment remains unwavering,' he said. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan affirmed that any announcement regarding the protest campaign would come directly from party founder Imran Khan. He said the Lahore visit was intended to meet party legislators and finalise the movement's future direction within the law. رائیونڈ روڈ لاہور پر پارلیمانی پارٹی کا اجلاس ہو گا دھماکہ خیز فیصلہ ہو گا پنجاب اٹھے گا اگر راستے میں روکا گیا تو دھرنا دیں گے۔ اپوزیشن لیڈر پنجاب اسمبلی ملک احمد خان بھچر✌️🔥 — Shahab Gondal (@ghega_shahab) July 12, 2025 Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar welcomed the convoy in a video message, calling it a 'symbolic awakening' of Punjab. 'The people of Lahore are on the streets to welcome their leaders,' he said. 'The government's use of force to suppress this peaceful demonstration is unacceptable — even under authoritarian regimes.' Bhachar warned that PTI is prepared to launch sit-ins if obstructed, and condemned what he described as growing political repression under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's administration. The backdrop to this political mobilisation is the June 27 suspension of 26 PTI lawmakers, following their protest during Maryam Nawaz's address to the Punjab Assembly. Since then, thousands of PTI workers have reportedly been arrested or charged as the party ramps up its opposition to the provincial government's policies and what it terms the 'Form 47 mandate.' 'PTI has now formally launched its protest movement,' Bhachar declared. 'Raids are underway across Punjab, and we are not afraid of these arrests. Our central leadership and parliamentary parties from K-P and Punjab are meeting in Lahore to finalise our course of action.'
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Imran Khan's party terms Pakistan SC's decision on reserved seats "unjust, misinterpretation of Constitution"
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's decision on reserved seats , terming the verdict "unjust and a misinterpretation of the Constitution," Geo News reported. PTI's statement follows the Constitutional Bench of the top court's acceptance of review petitions and its decision that the Imran Khan-founded party is not eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies. The 10-member bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan announced the verdict. Speaking to Geo News after the court's verdict, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed dismay over the decision, saying, "We are deeply disappointed... the decision is unfair to PTI, and the Constitution has been wrongly interpreted." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo He said, "The reserved seats rightfully belonged to PTI." Khan stated that PTI has no further legal recourse after the Supreme Court's review decision on reserved seats. He further added, "We cannot take this matter to any other court after this review judgment." Gohar Ali Khan announced that PTI will raise the issue inside and outside the parliament. In an official statement issued after the court's ruling, Imran Khan-founded party called the verdict the "darkest day in the country's constitutional history." Live Events Imran Khan-founded party recalled that the Supreme Court had previously recognised PTI's constitutional right to the reserved seats for women and minorities. Gohar Ali Khan further stated, "That was a time when the court announced a decision by the Constitution." PTI stated that the case was under judicial consideration for several months, Geo News reported. The statement reads, "PTI knocked on every legal door, presented every argument, and raised every constitutional point." PTI senator Hamid Khan said the verdict was "not based on justice" and claimed that the bench did not have the authority to decide the matter.
Business Recorder
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PTI's Gohar, Omar, other leaders acquitted in two cases
ISLAMABAD: A local court has acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, citing insufficient evidence and vague allegations in the two cases filed against them. Judicial Magistrate Shahzad Khan issued a detailed judgment regarding the acquittal of PTI leaders, Aamir Mughal, Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen, Malik Rafique, and others from two cases registered under sections, 159, 188, 186,353 under PPC and another case under Sections 506II,290,341, 188,159,353,186 under PPC at Karachi Company police station, stating that the prosecution failed to present 'cogent, strong, and hard evidence' necessary for conviction. The court dismissed the charges, calling the continuation of the trial a 'sheer waste of court['s] time.' The judgment highlighted that it is evident that the case against the petitioners and other accused individuals is fraught with serious legal and factual deficiencies. The allegations are vague and lack specificity, the prosecution has failed to establish individual roles or a common objective, and no incriminating evidence has been recovered from the accused persons/petitioners, it says. It says these shortcomings collectively weaken the prosecution's case and raise significant doubts about the validity of the charges. 'Without further evidence or clarification, the case appears to be built on shaky foundations, and the accused cannot be held liable for the alleged offenses based on the current record', it says, adding that as such, the charges against the petitioners and other accused individuals may well be dismissed for lack of merit. It says that the record reflects that general allegations are levelled in the first information report (FIR) and no specific role has been attributed to the present accused persons/petitioners. The record further shows that accused persons/petitioners, along with approximately 150 people, made a procession in which they made slogans against the state and also violated the lawful order of the authority; resultantly a case was registered, it says. The judgment says a critical issue is that the allegations are entirely general, targeting a large group of around 150 individuals without attributing any specific role, act, or overt criminal intent to the accused petitioners. This violates a fundamental principle of criminal law that accusations must be clear, specific, and individually attributable to sustain a prosecution, it says. It says that shockingly, despite the alleged involvement of 150 people, only two witnesses were cited in the challan, and there is no CCTV footage, NADRA facial recognition data, or other forensic evidence to connect the petitioners to the offence. Additionally, the absence of modern investigative techniques (CCTV, biometric verification) violates the right to a fair trial under Article 10A of the Constitution, it says. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
