PESHAWAR: Junaid Akbar, the PTI President for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has declared his intention to resign from his National Assembly seat and sever ties with the party’s parliamentary framework. His decision stems from ongoing frustration over being repeatedly denied the opportunity to speak on the assembly floor.
In a message circulated within the PTI parliamentary party’s WhatsApp group, Akbar stated that he plans to meet the National Assembly speaker on Saturday to submit a formal letter requesting a separate seat. He declared that he would now pursue his political endeavors as an independent member.
Akbar also confirmed the legitimacy of an audio recording circulating online, which is attributed to him. “My patience has been exhausted,” he remarked, adding that he would no longer participate in the party’s parliamentary committee or sit alongside its members.
He criticized the current parliamentary leadership, questioning the authority of the party leader and chief whip. Akbar condemned what he called an unfair system where only select individuals are allowed to speak daily, while others are marginalized and silenced. “Is there no sense of fairness or compassion left?” he asked, lamenting that the party’s dignity was being mistaken for weakness.
Akbar accused party colleagues of sidelining voices that raised critical issues, including inquiries into terrorism and the absence of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi from proceedings. “There’s a lack of courage to speak honestly, yet the same faces keep appearing every day,” he asserted, alleging that dissent was being suppressed and colleagues were behaving like courtiers.
He revealed that he had been granted the floor only once since last Ramadan, including during the budget session, and believed that even his own party members were preventing him from speaking due to his outspoken stance.“I am no longer part of this parliamentary group or of its members,” Akbar emphasized, stating his intention to communicate directly with the speaker and continue his political career independently.
It is worth noting that PTI has been experiencing internal divisions for some time, with recent tensions reportedly stemming from disagreements over the party’s protest plans scheduled for February 8. The party’s KP parliamentary committee reportedly clashed over strategy, with Akbar voicing his discontent and criticizing the leadership for allegedly bowing to pressure from figures like Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan.
