Islamabad, August 28, 2025: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday resigned from four standing committees of the National Assembly (NA) in line with directives from party founder Imran Khan, marking another move in the party’s evolving political strategy.
Barrister Gohar stepped down from the Law and Justice, Human Rights, Information Technology, and House Business Advisory Committees. His resignation adds to the growing list of PTI lawmakers quitting parliamentary bodies — at least 18 members have already withdrawn from various NA committees in recent weeks.
The resignations come amid PTI’s decision to boycott upcoming by-elections and its protest against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which disqualified several party leaders in July and August over their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023 riots.
Besides Gohar, a number of key PTI lawmakers — including Faisal Amin Gandapur, Shaharyar Afridi, Junaid Akbar Khan, Amir Dogar, and Sheikh Waqas Akram — have resigned from different NA committees. Notably, Junaid Akbar also relinquished his position as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, submitting his resignation to the party’s chief whip, Amir Dogar.
Party insiders revealed that NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has received some of the resignations, including those of Faisal Amin and Ali Asghar. Imran Khan has also directed PTI representatives to quit the Judicial Commission, terming its functioning ineffective. Barrister Gohar and Senator Ali Zafar, who sit on the commission, are expected to follow the directive.
The PTI leadership has reiterated that lawmakers disqualified in the May 9 cases remain its “true representatives,” while the ruling coalition — led by the PML-N and PPP — has announced a joint front for the upcoming by-polls.
Political observers view the wave of PTI resignations as part of a larger confrontation between the party and state institutions, signaling a continued escalation in Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape.
