Five KP Independent Senators Officially Join PTI

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On July 26, 2025, five independent senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) formally joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), increasing the party’s representation in the Senate to 21 members. The senators, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Azam Khan Swati, Faisal Javed Khan, Allama Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, and Rubina Naz, submitted their declarations of affiliation to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. Their alignment was confirmed by party officials and formalized upon submission to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). These senators were elected on July 21, 2025, with PTI’s backing and have now solidified their loyalty to the party, which holds governance in KP under Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. A sixth senator, Murad Saeed, has not yet submitted his declaration, leaving some uncertainty regarding his affiliation.

Faisal Javed Khan stated that the group voluntarily chose to join PTI to serve the people of KP and Pakistan, aligning with PTI founder Imran Khan’s vision of justice and reform. The move strengthens PTI’s position in the Senate, where it remains the second-largest party after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

This development occurs amid PTI’s intensified campaign for the release of Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023. PTI leaders have held rallies in KP and Sindh to demand Khan’s freedom, criticizing what they describe as political persecution by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government. The senators’ decision reflects PTI’s continuing influence in KP, where the party has focused on governance reforms and public welfare since 2013.

Despite setbacks, including the ECP’s 2024 ban on PTI’s election symbol, the party’s ability to attract independent lawmakers demonstrates its political resilience. The senators’ affiliation enhances PTI’s leverage in legislative matters, particularly concerning counterterrorism and economic policy. This development marks a strategic strengthening of PTI’s base in a challenging political environment.