PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Four of five dissenting candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have announced withdrawal from the Senate election as the efforts being made by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur yielded positive results.
The candidates, who withdrew their nomination papers, include Waqas Orakzai, Irshad Hussain, Irfan Saleem, and Ayesha Bano. Their decision aligns with the directives of PTI founder.
In a video message, Irfan Saleem stated, “We accept every decision made by the PTI founder.” Ayesha Bano echoed the sentiment, saying she has always followed the party founder’s instructions.
Irshad Hussain emphasised putting the party’s decision above personal interest, while Waqas Orakzai remarked, “Seats are temporary, but ideology is permanent—and we stand with the ideology.”
Chief Minister Gandapur praised the move, calling it a victory for the party’s core principles. “Waqas Orakzai, Irshad Hussain, Irfan Saleem, and Ayesha Bano have honored the party’s decision. Their commitment shows the strength of PTI’s ideology and the loyalty of its workers,” he said.
However, one candidate, Khurram Zeeshan, has so far refused to withdraw.
The KPA Assembly is set to hold Senate elections today for 11 vacant seats as withdrawal of the four PTI dissenters from the race has cleared the path for the government and opposition to elect their candidates unopposed.
A total of 145 members of the provincial assembly are expected to cast their votes in the election.
Out of the 11 Senate seats, six would be taken by the government, while five would go to the opposition. The ruling party has instructed its lawmakers to arrive at the Assembly Secretariat by 9:00 AM sharp to ensure timely participation in the polling process.
CM Gandapur to challenge governor-administered oath of MPAs in court
Ali Amin Gandapur has decided to move the court against the oath-taking of MPAs on reserved seats held at Governor’s House.
The chief minister said that the oath-taking in Governor’s House is a blatant violation of the constitution.
In a statement issued on Sunday, CM Gandapur asserted that holding the oath-taking at the Governor’s House contradicts Article 65 of the constitution, which clearly states that the oath must be taken on the assembly floor.
He clarified that the speaker of KP Assembly did not refuse to administer the oath, but the session was adjourned due to the lack of quorum.
He added that the speaker has summoned the assembly session on July 24, emphasizing that any oath outside the assembly, particularly at the Governor’s House, is unconstitutional.
Gandapur stated that Article 255(2) of the constitution applies only under extraordinary circumstances. If the chief minister and speaker refuse, only then can the chief justice nominate someone to administer the oath.
He added that the oath administered at the Governor’s House was illegal and therefore it would be challenged in the court.
“The petition has been drafted and it will be moved in the Peshawar High Court tomorrow,” Gandapur said.