Peshawar, July 19, 2025: Disgruntled members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have rejected calls to withdraw their candidacies and announced their intent to contest the upcoming Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), scheduled for July 21, despite the party’s official endorsements and a broader understanding for unopposed elections.
The announcement was made during a meeting of dissenting PTI figures, including Khurram Zeeshan, Irfan Saleem, and Ayesha Bano. Expressing strong criticism of the PTI KP leadership, Khurram Zeeshan declared that his decision to remain in the race was about principle, not just the Senate seat. “I will not withdraw, bow down, or compromise,” he stated, questioning whether the recent political alignment with the opposition was in line with the vision of PTI’s founder, Imran Khan.
Irfan Saleem echoed these sentiments, asserting, “We stand by our principles and will not become part of this flawed system. We are contesting—period.”
The dissent comes amid earlier reports suggesting that the Senate elections in KP would be held unopposed, as PTI’s political committee had officially endorsed a list of candidates recommended by the party’s parliamentary board and approved by founder Imran Khan.
Under a mutual understanding between the provincial government and opposition parties, 11 Senate candidates—six from PTI and five from the opposition—were expected to be elected unopposed. The PTI-endorsed candidates include Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Afridi, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Azam Swati, and Rubina Naz, while the opposition’s nominees are Talha Mehmood, Attaul Haq, Rubina Khalid, Dilawar Khan, and Niaz Ahmad.
PPP leader Talha Mehmood, speaking to a news channel, revealed that in the event PTI’s disgruntled candidates refuse to withdraw, the government and opposition would contest the elections jointly. He confirmed that a seat-sharing formula had already been finalized during a joint meeting attended by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, alongside senior leaders from the PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reiterated the party’s stance, warning that any member violating party discipline would face strict consequences. “Those not nominated by the party founder must withdraw or face removal from the party,” he said, emphasizing that the political committee’s decisions were final and binding.
The unfolding standoff highlights growing internal divisions within PTI as the party navigates a complex political environment ahead of the Senate polls. Whether the elections proceed unopposed or turn into a contested battle will largely depend on how the PTI leadership manages this latest rift.
