In a significant political development ahead of the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four out of five PTI candidates have withdrawn from the race, showcasing a unified front within the party. Only Khurram Zeeshan has refused to withdraw so far, though party leadership continues efforts to persuade him.
This move is being seen as a strong display of PTI’s ideological unity. The candidates—Waqas Orakzai, Irshad Hussain, Irfan Saleem, and Ayesha Bano—stepped down, expressing complete trust in the party’s founding leadership.
In a video message, Irfan Saleem said, “We stand by every decision of PTI’s founder,” while Ayesha Bano stated that she has always responded to the party’s call with loyalty. Irshad Hussain said he prioritized the party’s interests over his personal ambitions. Waqas Orakzai added, “A seat is temporary, but ideology is eternal.”
Chief Minister Gandapur appreciated their decisions, calling it a triumph of PTI’s founding vision. He praised the candidates for demonstrating loyalty and political maturity, stating that they had once again proved that PTI’s ideological workers place party integrity above personal gain.
It’s worth noting that internal discipline had become a challenge for PTI during the Senate election phase in KP, but the Chief Minister’s timely intervention helped stabilize the party ranks. The mass withdrawal is being viewed as a symbol of party unity.
