The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s scheduled oath-taking ceremony for 25 reserved seat members was abruptly postponed on Friday due to a lack of quorum, casting uncertainty over the province’s upcoming Senate elections set for July 21.

The session, already delayed by over two hours, was adjourned shortly after PTI’s Sher Ali Arbab highlighted the incomplete quorum, prompting a headcount. With attendance falling short, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati was forced to defer the proceedings until July 24.

This development has complicated the political landscape in KP, where tensions within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are running high. Law Minister Aftab Alam confirmed that PTI’s parliamentary party boycotted the session, citing internal divisions and discontent among lawmakers. “Our members are not satisfied with the party’s handling of issues and chose to stay away,” he stated.

The delay in swearing in 21 women and 4 minority representatives—crucial for the upcoming Senate vote—has thrown the election schedule into disarray. Those slated to take oath include members from JUI-F, PML-N, PPP, ANP, and PTI-Parliamentarians, as well as minority representatives from several parties.

Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah expressed frustration over the adjournment, warning that further delays could lead to court intervention. “If the PTI continues to derail the process, we are ready to pursue legal remedies,” he said, while reiterating that the opposition and government had reached a consensus on a joint formula for the Senate elections.

Meanwhile, PTI is grappling with a deepening internal crisis. Several dissident party members, including Irfan Saleem, Waqas Orakzai, and Ayesha Bano, have refused to withdraw their Senate candidacies, defying party directives. Support for these candidates from sitting MPAs like Tariq Mahmood and Shakeel Khan has only fueled the rift.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali confirmed that the party has closed the door on negotiations with the dissenters. “There will be no further talks. The party line is clear, and disciplinary action will be taken,” he said in an interview with Dunya News. He added that absentees from a key reconciliation meeting would face expulsion.

In response to the mounting challenges, the KP government and opposition parties—including JUI-F, PML-N, and PPP—have joined forces to ensure a unified front in the Senate elections. A joint strategy has been crafted to block PTI’s dissident candidates and secure victory for 11 agreed-upon nominees.

According to sources, tight coordination is being enforced: government MPAs will be monitored in groups, supervised by provincial ministers, while the opposition will do the same through their parliamentary leaders. Any breach of party discipline could trigger a joint probe by both sides.

Despite the delays and internal PTI strife, both the government and opposition remain optimistic that the Senate elections can proceed as planned—if the reserved seat oath-taking takes place before July 21. For now, the political situation in KP remains fluid, with high stakes and legal battles looming on the horizon.