The Senate elections have plunged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) into deep internal turmoil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with rifts within the party widening and tensions threatening to spiral out of control, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Friday.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s efforts to contain the discord have failed to unite the party, as a visible divide has now split PTI into two factions.
Disgruntled PTI leaders and local officials from Peshawar openly voiced no confidence in Gandapur’s leadership, accusing him of mismanaging the ticket distribution process for the upcoming Senate polls. In a fiery press conference, PTI Peshawar officials launched serious allegations, claiming that Senate tickets were being handed out to "ATMs" — wealthy individuals — instead of loyal party workers who had long served the party without recognition.
The controversy intensified further when PTI leaders declared that Irfan Saleem would not withdraw his nomination papers, directly challenging party decisions. The protesting members warned that the homes of lawmakers who voted for these “ATMs” would be besieged in retaliation, signalling potential unrest ahead of the elections.
Despite the chaos, the dissenting voices insisted their actions should not be seen as rebellion. “Our demands are not such that it can be said we are rebelling,” they said, emphasising that their loyalty lies solely with PTI’s founder, and they refuse to take directives from any other authority within the party.
The protesters have called for an immediate review of the candidate list for Senate elections, arguing that sidelining genuine workers not only demoralises the party base but also undermines PTI’s democratic ideals. The unfolding drama has turned what should have been a routine election process into a full-blown political crisis for PTI in its stronghold province.