PTI Founder Bans Election Tickets for Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai, and Asad Qaiser

PTI Purge: Gandapur Reveals Imran Khan’s Order to Exclude Three Senior Leaders from Tickets
(Peshawar, [Date]) — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur dropped a political bombshell today, disclosing that jailed PTI founder Imran Khan had personally ordered the exclusion of three senior party figures—former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, ex-minister Atif Khan, and Shahram Khan Tarakai—from receiving provincial election tickets.

Key Revelations

1. Loyalty Test
   • Gandapur stated the decision stemmed from “credible evidence” the trio had engaged in past anti-party activities and posed future risks.
   • The move suggests PTI is purging perceived dissenters ahead of elections.
2. Notable Exclusion
   • Asad Qaiser’s sidelining is particularly significant, given his role as NA Speaker (2018–22) and longtime Khan ally.
   • Shahram Tarakai previously served as KP health minister; Atif Khan held multiple cabinet portfolios.
3. Gandapur’s Broader Warning
   • Linked Pakistan’s instability directly to Khan’s incarceration:
     “The country won’t see peace until our leader is free.”
   • Defended his KP governance as “laying groundwork for PTI’s resurgence.”

Political Fallout

• Internal Rifts: The exclusions expose deepening fractures, with some PTI members privately calling it “over-centralization” of power.
• Protest Legacy: Khan’s May 2023 arrest sparked violent clashes; his supporters continue demanding his release as “political prisoner.”
• Govt’s Stance: Authorities maintain Khan faces legitimate corruption charges, dismissing victimization claims.

What This Means

• Defection Risk: Sidelined leaders may rebel or join rival parties, weakening PTI in its KP stronghold.
• Election Calculus: PTI bets on hardline loyalty over experience, potentially alienating moderate voters.
• Khan’s Shadow: The party’s dependence on its jailed founder leaves it vulnerable to leadership vacuums.

Sources: CM Gandapur’s press conference, PTI internal documents

Why It Matters: With elections looming, PTI’s purge signals a high-stakes gamble—prioritizing ideological purity over unity, while Pakistan’s political crisis deepens.

For reactions, watch for statements from Qaiser and other excluded leaders in coming days