Following instructions from party chairman Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators have resigned from multiple Senate standing committees, continuing the wave of resignations that began in the National Assembly. The move signals protest against the parliamentary system’s current functioning.
Senators Ali Zafar, Azam Swati, Dost Muhammad, Zeeshan Khanzada, Mirza Afridi, and Mohsin Aziz submitted their resignations from various Senate committees. Senator Azam Swati resigned from five committees, forwarding his letters to Parliamentary Leader Ali Zafar, who will send them to the Senate Chairman.
In his resignation, Senator Azam Swati highlighted that the parliamentary system has lost credibility. He stated that standing committees have become ineffective in upholding the constitution and ensuring the rule of law, necessitating their resignations as a political statement.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada resigned from five committees, including chairmanship of the Overseas Pakistanis Committee and membership in the Foreign Affairs, Finance and Revenue, Commerce, and Privatization Committees. His resignation letter cited adherence to Imran Khan’s directives as the reason for stepping down.
Similarly, Senator Dost Muhammad resigned from committees on Government Assurances, Human Rights, Food Security, Poverty Alleviation, and Railways, while Senator Mirza Afridi quit committees on Commerce, Industries and Production, Education, Energy, and Inter-Provincial Coordination, citing party instructions.
Earlier, Senator Mohsin Aziz had resigned from all committees. This follows the resignation of Public Accounts Committee Chairman Junaid Akbar and 51 PTI members of the National Assembly. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has not yet taken action on the NA resignations.