PTI Political Committee Directs Disgruntled Senate Candidates to Withdraw Nomination Papers; Candidates Firmly Refuse

Peshawar: The PTI political committee has instructed its disgruntled Senate candidates to withdraw their nomination papers, affirming the party’s agreement with the opposition. However, the candidates have rejected this directive and refused to comply.
According to Express News, a late-night meeting of PTI’s political committee defended the candidate list announced by the party’s founder and chairman, Imran Khan. The committee acknowledged the contributions of Irfan Saleem, stating that his services could not be overlooked by changing the list. Although objections were raised against candidate Mishal Yousafzai, she was accepted due to Imran Khan’s selection.
The committee endorsed a reconciliation formula with the opposition but could not convince the disgruntled candidates to withdraw their nomination papers. They directed the candidates to comply and considered issuing notices in case of non-compliance.
On the other hand, the disgruntled candidates— including Irfan Saleem, Syed Irshad Hussain, Khurram Zeeshan, Ayesha Bano, and Waqas Orakzai—held their own meeting and firmly refused to accept the committee’s decision or withdraw their nomination papers.
Khurram Zeeshan released a video statement saying the issue had moved beyond the Senate elections, accusing the party leadership of making deals with illegitimate forces and vowing resistance rather than compromise. He condemned the so-called “Form 47” government for imprisoning senior leaders and workers unjustly and insisted that they would stand on principles, rejecting politics of convenience or backroom deals.
Irfan Saleem also voiced strong opposition to alliances with establishment-backed candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasizing that PTI’s members were elected on Imran Khan’s name and ideology. He pledged to stand firmly against any move that would tarnish Imran Khan’s legacy and said he would consult party workers before making further decisions.
The ongoing deadlock highlights deep divisions within PTI as the Senate elections approach.