Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators resigned from their Senate standing committees on Thursday following the directives of jailed party founder Imran Khan.
The senators who stepped down include Fouzia Arshad, Falak Naz, Aon Abbas Buppi, Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, Dost Muhammad, Zeeshan Khanzada, Azam Khan Swati, Ali Zafar, and PTI-backed Mirza Muhammad Afridi.
The decision is part of PTI’s political strategy, which also includes boycotting upcoming by-elections. Last month, PTI lawmakers had resigned from the National Assembly committees on Khan’s orders.
Azam Khan Swati resigned from the Senate committees on cabinet secretariat, economic affairs, law and justice, national health services, regulation and coordination, and rules of procedure and privileges.
Dost Muhammad left the committees on government assurances, human rights, national food security and research, poverty alleviation and social safety, and railways.
Zeeshan Khanzada resigned from the committees on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, foreign affairs, finance, commerce, and privatisation.
Mirza Muhammad Afridi stepped down from committees on commerce, federal education and professional training, inter-provincial coordination, industries and production, and power.
Aon Abbas Buppi resigned from the committees on industries and production, poverty alleviation and social safety, religious affairs and interfaith harmony, defence production, and information and broadcasting.
Humayun Mohmand left the committees on parliamentary affairs, human rights, national health services and regulation, water resources, and information technology and telecommunication.
Falak Naz stepped down from committees on federal education and professional training, economic affairs, climate change, and problems of less developed areas.
Ali Zafar resigned from the Senate committee on information and broadcasting along with other panels.
Last month, at least 18 PTI lawmakers, including Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, resigned from National Assembly committees. The PTI chief himself quit four key committees in the lower house — Law and Justice, Human Rights, Information Technology, and House Business Advisory.
