Their only grievance with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was his alleged inaction during the release of Imran Khan.
PESHAWAR:
A group of dissident government lawmakers in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have openly expressed their displeasure, sharply criticizing provincial leaders for failing to secure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Led by former minister Mushtaq Ghani, the group made its position public through a strong message on social media. Ghani categorically denied being part of any lobby or advanced bloc, saying their only grievance with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was his alleged inaction during the release of Imran Khan.
“Our only goal on the agenda is the release of Imran Khan,” Ghani said. He described the ongoing movement for Khan’s freedom as a “homeopathic” approach, arguing that such methods would yield no results. “If we want to sit before Parliament on June 10, then we should not stand up until Khan is released,” he added.
The emergence of the splinter group has added a new layer of tension within the ruling coalition in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Ghani stressed that the lawmakers were neither seeking personal gains nor aligning with a hidden faction, but were solely motivated by the demand for the immediate freedom of their party founder.
In response, Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Salim Swati acted quickly to contain the looming crisis. He met Mushtaq Ghani in Abbottabad on Saturday and assured him that the dissidents’ concerns would be addressed. Sources said the rebels have also been offered places in the provincial cabinet, but have asked for until today to deliberate.
A consultative meeting of the splinter group is scheduled for today in Peshawar, just before the provincial assembly session. The outcome of the meeting is being closely monitored, as any escalation could threaten the stability of the ruling system in the province.
Political observers note that the development reflects growing frustration within PTI ranks over the party’s strategy regarding the prolonged detention of Imran Khan. The situation remains fluid as the provincial government and dissidents prepare for crucial deliberations.
