Peshawar( The COW News Digital)In a major political breakthrough for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), four out of five dissenting candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have withdrawn from the upcoming Senate elections, strengthening the party’s position and curbing potential internal rifts.
According to official sources, PTI candidates Irshad Hussain, Irfan Saleem, and Ayesha Bano have formally stepped down from the Senate race following successful negotiations with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Waqas Orakzai had previously confirmed his withdrawal, bringing the total number of reconciled candidates to four.
Chief Minister Gandapur’s office confirmed that all four candidates expressed their confidence in the party’s leadership and strategy. “These decisions reflect the unity within PTI and the effectiveness of our political engagement,” said a spokesperson for the CM’s office.
The withdrawal comes after days of internal discussions aimed at preventing party fragmentation and deterring any possibility of horse trading ahead of the Senate elections. The PTI leadership emphasized strict adherence to party discipline and loyalty, while reaffirming zero tolerance for corruption or policy violations.
The spokesperson further stated that PTI has successfully blocked all attempts to disrupt the electoral process in KP through backdoor dealings. “Our leadership remains committed to upholding transparency and principled politics in the province,” he said.
The development is seen as a significant step toward restoring party discipline and ensuring political stability in the region. Analysts believe that CM Gandapur’s intervention has not only defused a potential intra-party crisis but also reinforced PTI’s electoral strategy.
Despite this success, one dissident candidate, Khurram Zeeshan, has not yet announced his withdrawal. Party officials continue to engage with him in hopes of securing full consensus ahead of the polls.
This latest move consolidates PTI’s position in KP and could have far-reaching implications for the Senate vote. With unity largely restored, the party appears poised to avoid internal vote splitting and maintain its legislative strength.
Political observers note that the swift resolution of internal dissent underlines PTI’s current leadership’s determination to project party unity amid a politically sensitive environment. The focus now shifts to the remaining candidate, with hopes that Zeeshan too will step down in the spirit of party cohesion.
