In a major setback for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared all PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members in the National and Provincial Assemblies as independent lawmakers.According to an ECP notification issued in light of the Supreme Court’s August 25, 2025, verdict, all PTI-backed lawmakers will now be considered independent members with no official affiliation to PTI or SIC.

 Following the apex court’s decision, the ECP has revised the party position lists for the National Assembly and all provincial assemblies, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, removing PTI and SIC’s formal representation. The ECP clarified that under the court’s ruling, no lawmaker’s allegiance to PTI or SIC will be reflected in the parliamentary records. 

This development could have significant political implications, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI-backed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur resigned yesterday following instructions from party founder Imran Khan. With the new chief minister’s election expected within days, the ECP’s notification may reshape the power dynamics in the province, as independent lawmakers are no longer bound to follow party directives or leadership decisions.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)