PESHAWAR: Three more MPAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, including the deputy speaker, on Wednesday joined the party’s dissidents in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly amid the provincial government’s unsuccessful attempts to pacify the rebellious lawmakers.

MPA Qurban Ali Khan, who leads the PTI dissidents, claimed that three more members of the party had joined the bloc on Wednesday taking its strength to 17.

“Three more MPAs will join the bloc in the next two days,” he told Dawn.

In the day, the disgruntled MPAs from Peshawar, Swat, Kohat, Hangu and other areas held a meeting at the MPAs Hostel.

Noted among them were Ziaullah Bangash, Mahmood Jan, Javed Nasim, Dr Amjad, Gul Sahib Khan Khattak, Arbab Jehandad and Shah Faisal.

Significantly, Deputy Speaker Imtiaz Shahid, who belongs to Kohat district, has also joined the group. Experts say the turmoil within PTI could land Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and his coalition government in trouble.

Jamaat-i-Islami and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan with eight and five MPAs respectively are coalition partners of the PTI in the province.

Qurban Ali Khan claimed four women MPAs were among the dissidents, who enjoyed the support of many party MNAs.

He said the provincial ministers and party leaders had been trying to meet dissidents since Tuesday but the meeting didn’t take place due to the latter’s refusal.

“Different people have been approaching us since Tuesday to resolve issues through dialogue but we have refused,” he said, adding dissidents would speak to the party chairman only regarding issues.

“We will not listen to anyone except Imran Khan,” he said, adding that the charge sheet against ministers and dishonest figures of the party would be presented to the party head.

Mr Qurban said before meeting Imran Khan, dissidents who had formed a bloc, would address a news conference in Peshawar.

He said the dissidents had advised the provincial government to act in line with the PTI manifesto and guidelines, but nobody paid attention.

The dissidents’ leader said the PTI vision and programme in health, education and local government hadn’t been followed and that key social sector portfolios had been given to the party’s coalition partners.

“Our mission is to save PTI and not to secure portfolios or other coveted positions,” he said.

Special assistant to the chief minister Syed Mohammad Ishtiaq, who is the PTI provincial information secretary, played down the dissident crisis in the party.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday evening, he said he had met members of the dissident bloc and offered them the resolution of their grievances through negotiation.

“Differences among our members are natural and government is ready to address their genuine problems,” he said.

The special assistant said the disgruntled lawmakers were asked to express their reservations and demands during the meeting.