Party Claims Opposition Space Is Shrinking
PTI is considering stepping down from legislatures as the party claims its political space is rapidly shrinking.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan said the issue has become serious after restrictions on PTI leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Speaking during a television programme, he said other political parties were freely running election campaigns in the region.
He named PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif as examples of leaders allowed to campaign.
However, he said PTI was not being given even basic political space.
According to him, senior PTI leaders were stopped from taking part in the campaign ahead of the June 7 elections.
He said Junaid Akbar, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, and Shahid Khattak were barred from campaigning in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Resignations Under Discussion
Shafi Jan said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s statement about resignations came in response to the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said the matter was only at an early stage.
A detailed meeting of the party’s political committee is expected to discuss the next steps.
The minister said PTI still wanted to remain part of the current political system.
However, he claimed the party could not continue without fair political space.
He said the party was being pushed toward difficult decisions.
The statement has increased political uncertainty at a sensitive time.
Gilgit-Baltistan is heading toward polls, and PTI has repeatedly accused authorities of restricting its campaign.
Asad Qaiser Warns of Exiting the System
PTI senior leader Asad Qaiser had also issued a similar warning last week.
The former National Assembly speaker said the party was seriously considering leaving the system.
He also called for a new Charter of Democracy in Pakistan.
Qaiser said PTI wanted its legal rights and public mandate to be respected.
He warned that the party had other options if political space was not restored.
When asked about mass resignations or the possible dissolution of the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, he said no final decision had been made.
However, he said different options were under consideration.
The latest remarks show growing frustration within PTI.
The party believes it is being denied equal political opportunity.
For now, PTI has not announced a final move.
But its leadership has made clear that resignations and other major decisions remain on the table.
