PESHAWAR: 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.
Also read: No Contest: KP govt, opposition agree on unopposed senate elections
