ISLAMABAD: During Monday’s Senate session discussing the 27th Constitutional Amendment, PTI Senator Saifullah Abro defied his party’s stance by voting in favor of the government-backed bill. This unexpected move prompted swift repercussions within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and culminated in his decision to resign from the Senate.
Remaining in the chamber after PTI staged a walkout, Abro cast his vote alongside the treasury members. Speaking to journalists afterward, he defended his actions, stating that his support was driven by allegiance to the Pakistan Army and respect for Field Marshal Asim Munir, whose leadership, he claimed, had gained international acclaim.
Abro expressed his admiration for the military’s role in “defeating India” and guiding the country through challenging times, describing his conscience as the motivator behind his decision to endorse the amendment. Shortly after clarifying his stance, he announced plans to resign, urging the Senate Secretariat to “de-notify” him and signaling his intent to step down following his departure from party lines.
PTI insiders revealed that the party swiftly reacted to distance itself from Abro. Within hours of his dissenting vote, he was removed from the PTI parliamentary group chat on WhatsApp and excluded from other internal communication platforms controlled by the Senate wing of the party. Sources confirmed that this exclusion directly stemmed from Abro’s decision to vote against PTI’s collective stance and walkout strategy.
The senator’s unexpected split from party ranks intensifies the political debate surrounding the contentious 27th Amendment and underscores a significant intra-party fallout during Pakistan’s ongoing constitutional reform efforts.
