ISLAMABAD – In a fresh escalation of Pakistan’s already tense political climate, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday warned that it may completely walk out of the National Assembly if, according to the party, the government and state institutions continue to “corner and target” its leadership.
Addressing the House, PTI’s interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan delivered a strongly worded speech, accusing the government of pushing a “minus-one formula” aimed at sidelining the party’s founder. He said that if political pressure and institutional criticism persist, PTI lawmakers will have “no choice left” but to resign en masse and boycott all parliamentary proceedings.
Barrister Gohar condemned the recent remarks by a military spokesperson who referred to the PTI founder as a security risk, calling the comments “irresponsible, undemocratic and deeply alarming.” He said such statements not only undermine the sanctity of democratic debate but also risk further polarising the nation at a sensitive political moment.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, seeking to defuse tensions, appealed for calm and stressed that political disagreements must be resolved through dialogue, not walkouts. He reiterated his willingness to mediate between all parliamentary parties, warning that a complete boycott by PTI could destabilise the functioning of Parliament and hinder legislative progress.
The situation underscores a widening gulf between PTI and the ruling coalition, with both sides accusing the other of undermining democratic values. PTI insists it is being unfairly targeted and denied a level playing field, while government voices argue that the party must face legal and political accountability like any other group.
As the political drama unfolds, observers warn that an opposition walkout could plunge Parliament into deeper dysfunction at a time when the country faces serious economic and security challenges. Whether the two sides choose confrontation or constructive dialogue in the coming days will determine how the crisis evolves.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.