PTI to take action against workers for 'violating discipline' by contesting as independents

E-Paper | July 28, 2026

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announced on Tuesday that the party will take action against members who "violate discipline".

In a press statement released today, members who are planning to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates because they were not issued a ticket by the party will be reported to a two-member disciplinary committee, comprising Naeemul Haq and Arshad Dad.

The announcement comes days after disgruntled PTI leader retired Col Ajmal Sabir Raja said that he planned to contest as an independent candidate from NA-63 after he was refused a ticket from the party.

According to the statement, all party members had sworn an oath that they would not contest elections if they failed to get a ticket. Therefore, the decision to contest elections in an independent capacity is not just a violation of party discipline but also of Articles 62, 63 of the Constitution, the statement read.

The disciplinary committee will forward its report regarding party members contesting as independent candidates to the party Chairman Imran Khan.

There is discontent among PTI workers over the issuance of tickets to candidates, with several members claiming that the party leadership had been unfair and had handed out tickets to the "same corrupt" people it stood against.

Female workers also lamented the "unjust" distribution of tickets, saying that party leaders had issued tickets to women who were related to the leadership instead of old guards.

Party workers from different cities had protested in front of Khan's residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad. They eventually dispersed after assurances from Khan and his wife Bushra Maneka.

ELECTIONS 2018

Press Release

PTI women activists complain of ‘unjust’ ticket distribution

PTI workers’ protest over award of tickets continues in Banigala

PTI’s unravelling from within

Haroon Rashid Khan

Jul 03, 2018 03:14pm

Contestants should give up membership of any party if they want to contest elections independently. Also, there should be voting by members in each party to decide which person should get the ticket.

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Owais Najeeb

Jul 03, 2018 03:17pm

Invoking Article 62, 63 of the Constitution is outrageous. Does Imran Khan fulfill the requirement of the same Articles now that he has broken his promise of 'not giving tickets to the status quo'? The very same status quo has hijacked the party and are throwing native-PTI members out of it. Such a sad day for PTI.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jul 03, 2018 03:35pm

How come the "freedom of choice" of PTI's members be snubbed, ignored and denied?

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BhaRAT

Jul 03, 2018 03:48pm

I won't vote for PTI anymore. I am sick of their u-turns. I will vote for PMLN now.

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Aam admi

Jul 03, 2018 03:53pm

nothing new...............

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Miraaj

Jul 03, 2018 03:55pm

Taken oath not to leave PTI if denied ticket? What on earth is this its an utmost dictatorship within party not to allow freedom of expression or movement. PMLN is more good than, as quitr a few left to cobtest as independents and pmln wished them luck and vowed to beat through votes. Amazing pmln is leading all tge way

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Harmony-1©

Jul 03, 2018 04:05pm

@BhaRAT - Some trolls pretend to be someone they are not!

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usman

Jul 03, 2018 04:07pm

@BhaRAT great... don't complaint later and write long comments against the corrupt mafia. PTI is a new team and they will settle down with some span of time. We need to understand that thing and give them a chance.

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Jul 03, 2018 04:17pm

I am baffled, how will he take disciplinary action on someone contesting as independent candidate

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Aman

Jul 03, 2018 04:19pm

Imran is right for taking action against these rule and oath breakers.

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Khan

Jul 03, 2018 04:21pm

why should pti be taking action let them contest elections as Independent what is wrong with it ?

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khaja

Jul 03, 2018 04:33pm

Dictatorship in the PTI.

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Jalbani Baloch

Jul 03, 2018 04:56pm

It is a strange decision of PTI to bar the candidates from contesting elections as independent, simply because they did not agree with the party decision. In my opinion, members of any party are a free citizen and not bound by any restrictions to contest the elections. This could happen when all the parties patronize democratic norms within the party and the parties make internal elections to choose their leader to head the party. Only in that case, the party membership may be binding or a burden on the shoulders of the party member.

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Afzal Waris

Jul 03, 2018 04:57pm

@Owais Najeeb As a matter of fact Imran Khan was forced to change his stance of awarding tickets to new comers as it has been proved that the youth could make a mob only and enough support from voters at polling booth consequently son of Jehangir Tareen was defeated inspite of full part support. Our society.is based on bradaris and clans subdivided in so many splinter groups. Under these circumstances there was no.option to award tickets to the influential electables. Ik could not implement his programme without coming into power.and then to bring a.change in the system. So pls encourage and support him to bring a change through constitutional process.

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Gaurav

Jul 03, 2018 05:21pm

Democracy !!!!

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Nimbus

Jul 03, 2018 05:52pm

There is a huge amount of pressure on PTI to win the election not every can be a part of the winning team , patience, patience & patience if you are a part of the team you will get a chance to play !! The main issue is the end of corruption .

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Azaz

Jul 03, 2018 08:26pm

@khaja Dont forget that it was this dictorial behavior of Imran Khan during his captaincy when he played cricket that kept the team disciplined and he was able to fight and win against giants such as west indies and ultimately win the world cup for Pakistan.

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Lotta Group

Jul 03, 2018 09:10pm

Members including MPA MNA should be tightly coupled to party, Incase of quitting should be banned for at least 1 year banned to join any party or run for any office.

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Shoaib Saeed

Jul 04, 2018 12:12am

Oath is Oath .... they should have considered this before.

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Salman

Jul 04, 2018 02:18am

Sad day for PTI

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Tipu

Jul 04, 2018 02:35am

Any candidate who changes party within 6 months before election or runs election as independent should not be allowed to contest, rule should apply to all parties.

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