Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has withdrawn the nomination of Aqibullah Khan, brother of former speaker Asad Qaiser, for the speaker position of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Sources reveal that the decision to switch candidates came after discussions in a meeting between Umar Ayub and Imran Khan, held at Adiala Jail. This decision reflects internal pressures within PTI, leading to a change in course regarding their Speaker nominee. Umar Ayub, confirming the nomination of Babar Saleem Swati, highlights the party's shift in strategy for the leadership of the KP Assembly. Meanwhile, as political maneuvering continues, Speaker KP Assembly Mushtaq Ghani has announced the forthcoming election for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions on February 29. This development sets the stage for a heated leadership battle within the assembly. It's noteworthy that Babar Saleem Swati, a former member of the KP Assembly and currently an independent candidate from Mansehra, brings political experience to the table, having previously served in the assembly from August 2018 to January 2023.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)