PTI MNA Zain Qureshi stepped down on Saturday as the party’s deputy parliamentary leader amid an internal inquiry on the loyalty of certain lawmakers.

Earlier this week, the PTI decided to take legal action against its lawmakers who had voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment in clear violation of the party policy.

Zain, the son of former PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, denied reports at the time that he was present on the premises of parliament at the time of the amendment’s passage. He clai­med that he was underground as per the instructions of his father.

According to the PTI, the party was unable to contact him. Zain was issued a show-cause notice on Tuesday.

In a post on X today, he announced: “Based on my belief for a free and transparent inquiry and in recognition of the sentiment of our party supporters, I am resigning from my role as deputy parliamentary leader. I do so until and unless I have the confidence and trust of my party and our founding chairman, Imran Khan.”

Zain added that in the “interest of public transparency for all PTI supporters”, he had formally replied to his show-cause notice and provided a comprehensive account.

“I was, am and will remain faithful to my party, to my leader Imran Khan and to my father and all that he stands for.”

Opinion

Editorial

Deadlocked
Updated 19 Apr, 2025

Deadlocked

Politicians’ refusal to talk to each other and resolve issues has created space for a different type of rulership to take over.
Trump vs Harvard
19 Apr, 2025

Trump vs Harvard

AMONGST the ‘enemies of the people’ in Trumpian America are elite universities seen as the bastions of liberal...
External account stability
19 Apr, 2025

External account stability

DRIVEN by a major spike in workers’ remittances last month, the country’s current account posted a record ...
Paying the price
Updated 18 Apr, 2025

Paying the price

Pakistan is trapped in a relentless cycle of climate volatility.
Political solution
18 Apr, 2025

Political solution

THOUGH the BNP-M may have ended its 20-day protest sit-in outside Quetta on Wednesday, the core issues affecting...
Grave desecration
18 Apr, 2025

Grave desecration

THE desecration of 85 Muslim graves at a cemetery in Hertfordshire in the UK is a distressing act that deserves the...