Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members resign from National Assembly standing committees on the directives of Imran Khan, escalating political tensions. Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has instructed all party members to resign from National Assembly (NA) standing committees, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), as a protest against recent disqualifications of PTI lawmakers. The announcement, made on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, follows a late-night meeting of PTI’s political committee, intensifying the party’s confrontation with the government.
Why This Matters in South Asia
The resignations signal a deepening political crisis in Pakistan, a key South Asian nation, where PTI’s actions could destabilise parliamentary processes and influence regional political dynamics. With Imran Khan’s leadership from behind bars, the move underscores the ongoing tug-of-war between opposition and government, potentially affecting democratic institutions and public trust across the region.
PTI’s Strategic Withdrawal
On Wednesday, MNA Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel announced that the majority of PTI members would resign from their memberships and chairmanships of all NA standing committees, acting on direct orders from Imran Khan. The decision was finalised during a four-and-a-half-hour meeting of PTI’s political committee, concluding at 3:30 AM on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Mastikhel, speaking outside the PAC meeting, confirmed the resignations but noted that formal submissions to the NA Speaker were still pending.
The resignations come in the wake of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualifying several PTI lawmakers in July and August 2025 for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023, riots following Khan’s arrest. PTI considers these disqualified members its “true representatives” and has vowed to boycott by-elections in their constituencies, viewing participation as legitimising a “flawed process.”
Internal Party Dynamics
The decision to resign was not without internal contention. Sources indicate that PTI’s political committee was divided, with 13 members favouring participation in the by-elections and nine opposing it. This split led to General Secretary Salman Akram Raja offering his resignation, which Khan rejected. Aleema Khan, Imran’s sister, reiterated his directive to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Raja to boycott the polls, stating, “Contesting the by-elections would only give legal justification to those polls.”
Despite the boycott, PTI plans to field a candidate in the NA-129 constituency in Lahore, vacated due to the death of Mian Azhar. Hammad Azhar, Mian Azhar’s son, clarified on X that Khan distinguished this case from the disqualifications, allowing a family member or nominee to contest.
Broader Implications
The resignations mark a significant escalation in PTI’s protest against the government and judicial processes. The political committee expressed concerns over daily hearings in the Toshakhana trial at Adiala Jail, where Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, face charges. They argue these hearings undermine the accused’s fundamental rights and hinder justice delivery. Khan also voiced distress over Bushra Bibi’s solitary confinement, calling it unprecedented in Pakistan’s political history.
Aleema Khan, speaking outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, after meeting her brother, highlighted additional grievances. She quoted Khan as criticising the judiciary’s lack of independence, the military operation in Waziristan, and the expulsion of Afghan refugees, which he deemed “against Islamic values.” Khan also lamented the state of Pakistan cricket under PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the environmental policies contributing to floods in Buner.
Health and Access Concerns
Aleema confirmed that Khan is in stable health but suffers from an eye condition, for which a court petition will seek treatment by specialists from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). She noted that the meeting with Khan was the first in over four months, as family access had been repeatedly denied. A special court hearing the Toshakhana-II case recently ordered jail authorities to allow full access for Khan’s lawyers and family during in-prison proceedings, addressing these restrictions.
Background
Imran Khan, arrested in August 2023, has faced multiple legal battles, including the Toshakhana case and charges related to the May 9, 2023, riots. The ECP’s disqualifications of PTI lawmakers have sparked protests in the NA, with the opposition decrying what they call politically motivated convictions. PTI’s decision to resign from NA committees follows a pattern of boycotts and protests aimed at challenging the government’s legitimacy.
What’s Next
The resignations are likely to disrupt NA committee functions, particularly the PAC, which oversees government expenditure. PTI’s boycott of by-elections, except in NA-129, could reshape electoral strategies in Pakistan, potentially galvanising opposition support while risking further marginalisation. Imran Khan’s orders to resign from NA standing committees underscore his strategy to maintain pressure on the government, setting the stage for a planned PTI rally in September to demand judicial independence.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 27th, 2025
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