KP Assembly Postpones Session Amid Quorum Crisis and Senate Election Tensions
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly session scheduled for Sunday, July 20, 2025, was abruptly postponed due to a lack of quorum. Delaying the long-awaited oath-taking of members elected on reserved seats for women and minorities. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati officially adjourned the session after confirming inadequate attendance.
This is not the first time the session has faced disruptions. The delay has drawn severe criticism from opposition members, who accuse the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of deliberately obstructing constitutional processes.
Opposition Slams PTI for ‘Political Immaturity’
Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah expressed frustration over the repeated delays, stating that “political juveniles have been running KP for 12 years.” He alleged that the government has been calling sessions at inappropriate hours—sometimes even at midnight—to pursue unconstitutional agendas.
Dr. Ibadullah emphasized that the oath-taking process is inevitable. He Also Said “If it doesn’t happen now, it will happen later.”
He further criticized the provincial government for failing to ensure KP’s representation in the Senate for the past one and a half years. According to Ibadullah, maintaining quorum is the government’s responsibility, and no one can stop the oath from eventually taking place.
Senate Elections: Internal PTI Rift Settled—For Now
Parallel to the Assembly drama, Senate elections in KP proceeded with an unexpected twist—all candidates were elected unopposed. This development followed a last-minute mutual agreement between the provincial government and opposition parties.
Sources confirmed that PTI managed to resolve its internal conflict regarding covering candidates, with all dissenting nominees withdrawing their papers. The pre-agreed formula allocated six seats to PTI and five to the opposition, with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) getting two seats each, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) receiving one.
‘Who’s the Leader?’: Ibadullah on PTI’s Confusion
Commenting on PTI’s internal dynamics, Dr. Ibadullah remarked:“PTI is a strange party; everyone gives different statements. Who is the leader, and whose word should we follow?”
He added that negotiations were held with party leadership, not individual candidates, and hoped for a peaceful transition through unopposed elections. The opposition is also planning to approach the Chief Justice to ensure that the oath-taking for reserved seats is completed without further delay.
