Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is set to hold Senate elections today amid significant internal tensions within PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf).
Despite ongoing efforts to reconcile dissenting members, four out of five rebel PTI lawmakers—Waqas Orakzai, Arshad Hussain, Ayesha Bano, and Irfan Saleem—have withdrawn their nominations.
Nevertheless, their names will still appear on the ballot papers, as the withdrawal deadline was until 12 PM on Sunday. Khurram Zeeshan remains firm in his decision not to withdraw, with late-night persuasion attempts continuing.
The internal rift poses a serious challenge for PTI, with the potential for rebel members to vote against their own party’s candidates, creating a possibility of a PTI versus PTI contest. Some MPs may cast votes for Irfan Saleem, which could lead to unexpected results. Notably, Arshad Hussain, a PTI worker, officially withdrew from the election and submitted a formal request to the Election Commission to cancel his nomination.
Despite these developments, sources indicate that the government and opposition have reached an agreement based on a six/five formula, aiming to prevent any upset. A PTI leader emphasized that this marks the first time the party is navigating internal dissent, but assured that no significant defections are anticipated. According to government sources, the rebel members are unlikely to vote against party policies, and the elections are expected to proceed smoothly.
There is, however, a possibility that one of the four general seat candidates may face defeat, while rebel group member Irfan Saleem could secure a victory. Meanwhile, high-level negotiations continue, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader Dr. Abad holding a two-hour-long meeting, during which they agreed to implement the six/five formula.
Opposition Leader Dr. Abad expressed confidence that their side would secure all five opposition seats without issue, asserting that rebel PTI members would not impact their strategy. He also noted that Chief Minister Gandapur has devised a robust plan to ensure smooth proceedings.
Sources reveal that today, seven electoral panels will be formed for the general seats, including a unique panel comprising members from both government and opposition parties. This panel is expected to support PPP candidate Senator Talha Mahmood, who currently holds only 15 opposition votes. With an additional five votes from the government, Mahmood’s victory appears assured. The government needs a total of 76 votes to win all four Senate seats, leaving approximately 16 votes in reserve.
As the election process unfolds, all eyes remain on the internal dynamics within PTI and the broader political maneuvering shaping the outcome of this crucial Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
