The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) disgruntled leader, Waqas Orakzai, has withdrawn from the race for Senate elections after detailed negotiations with the party leadership on Sunday.
Mr Waqas Orkazai stated in a video statement, flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, said that after verification and meeting with the party leadership and their assurances, he has decided to withdraw from the race for the senate elections.
He said that his grievances were addressed by the party leadership, Ali Amin Khan, Firdus Shamim Naqvi, and Salman Akram Raja, that the list of senate elections was issued by the party chief, Imran Khan.
He added that he would not contest the Senate elections.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said he always followed Imran Khan’s orders and abided by him. He said the senate candidates’ list was issued by Imran Khan himself, and he was thankful to Waqas Orakzai for withdrawing from the senate contest.
Read also: PTI faces rebellion in Senate elections as covering candidates refuse to withdraw
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing internal dissent ahead of the Senate elections as several candidates removed from the party’s priority list have refused to step aside.
A meeting of covering candidates was held, attended by Irfan Saleem, Waqas Orakzai, Khurram Zeeshan (general seats), former IG Syed Irshad Hussain (technocrat seat), and Ayesha Bano (women’s seat). All participants decided to contest the elections independently, defying the party leadership’s directives.
Angry over being denied tickets, Irfan Saleem, Khurram Zeeshan, and Ayesha Bano voiced their concerns to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja. In response, the central leadership formed a three-member committee—Barrister Gohar, Omar Ayub, and Asad Qaiser— to negotiate with the disgruntled members.
Salman Akram Raja is set to meet Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur tomorrow along with the protesting candidates in a last-ditch effort to resolve the crisis.
The elections for 11 Senate seats from KP are scheduled for July 21, including seven general seats and two each for women and technocrats.
