Peshawar: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Junaid Akbar has announced his decision to resign from his National Assembly seat and step away from the party’s parliamentary setup, citing ongoing frustration over being denied the opportunity to speak in the Assembly.
In a message shared within the PTI parliamentary party WhatsApp group, Akbar stated that he would meet the National Assembly Speaker on Saturday and formally submit a request for a separate seat, declaring his intention to pursue his political career independently. He also confirmed the authenticity of an audio recording attributed to him.
“My patience has run out,” Akbar said, adding that he would no longer be part of PTI’s parliamentary committee or sit with its members. He questioned the authority of the parliamentary leader and chief whip, criticizing what he described as an unfair system where only certain members were allowed to speak while others were ignored. “Is there no method, no humanity left?” he asked, claiming the party’s decency was being mistaken for weakness.
Akbar accused party colleagues of deliberately sidelining voices raising critical issues, including questions on terrorism and the absence of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi from the House. “There isn’t enough courage to speak the truth, yet the same faces appear every day,” he said, alleging that dissenting voices were being silenced.
The PTI leader noted that he had been given the floor only once since last Ramadan, including during the budget session, and claimed even his own supporters had prevented him from speaking due to his outspoken stance.
“I am no longer part of this parliamentary party or of you people,” Akbar said, emphasizing that he would deal directly with the National Assembly Speaker and continue his political work as an independent lawmaker.
PTI has been facing internal rifts for some time, with the latest division reportedly arising over the party’s February 8 protest plan. The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-Pakistan (TTAP) had announced a countrywide shutdown on that date to mark the second anniversary of the 2024 general elections, which PTI has repeatedly described as “rigged.”
Reports suggest sharp disagreements emerged during PTI KP’s parliamentary committee meeting to finalize the protest strategy. Akbar, in particular, expressed frustration, claiming that the party leadership was under pressure to “appease everyone,” including Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan.