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Seven PTI Senators Resign from Senate Committees in Protest Against Imran Khan’s Incarceration
Seven PTI senators quit all Senate committees, calling Imran Khan’s jailing and PTI disqualifications a “systematic dismantling” of democracy. Resignations follow party orders amid growing political rift
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-09-11
Seven PTI Senators Resign from Senate Committees in Protest Against Imran Khan’s Incarceration

ISLAMABAD — Seven senators aligned with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have resigned from all Senate standing committees, citing orders from party founder Imran Khan and expressing outrage over what they called the erosion of democratic norms.

The resignations, submitted by Dost Muhammad, Zeeshan Khanzada, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Azam Khan Swati, Humayun Mohmand, Falak Naz, and Aon Abbas Buppi, come just two weeks after PTI claimed that around 30 of its lawmakers had quit parliamentary committees. However, the National Assembly Secretariat has so far only confirmed receiving 20 resignations.

In their resignation letters, the senators said the decision was made voluntarily under Imran’s instructions, while denouncing his continued imprisonment and the widespread disqualification of PTI lawmakers. Imran, behind bars since August 2023 in a £190 million corruption case, also faces terrorism-related trials linked to the May 9 riots.

Senator Azam Swati wrote that he could “no longer in good conscience serve on Senate committees when the state is the foremost violator of the very rights these committees are meant to safeguard.” He condemned what he termed the systematic dismantling of democracy and fundamental rights, pointing to Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s ruling stripping PTI of its electoral symbol, alleged manipulation of Form-47 during the 2024 general elections, and the disqualification of PTI lawmakers.

“This resignation is an act of protest not just on behalf of my party, but to faithfully follow the decision of my party leader Imran Khan, the Law of this great country, and the Constitution of Pakistan — which today stands orphaned, dishonoured, and ignored,” Swati added.

Other senators echoed similar grievances. Dost Muhammad and Zeeshan Khanzada wrote that the “deliberate denial of justice” compelled their resignations, while Mohmand criticized the state for blocking legal avenues of protest, citing the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The senators resigned from multiple committees, including those on law and justice, economic affairs, human rights, health, foreign affairs, commerce, defence production, and education.

Last month, PTI lawmakers had also resigned from National Assembly committees and chairmanships after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified several of its members over their alleged role in the May 9 unrest.

The coordinated resignations underscore PTI’s strategy of parliamentary protest amid the party’s ongoing struggle against Imran Khan’s incarceration and state-led political clampdowns.
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