ISLAMABAD: Shahid Ahmad Khattack, Member National Assembly (MNA) from Karak (KP), has been appointed parliamentary group leader of the Independents in the National Assembly—previously aligned with the Sunni Ittehad Council/PTI—replacing Zartaj Gul, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court and subsequently disqualified from NA membership.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking to The News on Wednesday, claimed that the orders for Shahid Khattak’s appointment were issued by the jailed PTI founder. He dismissed speculation that Sanaullah Khan Mastikhail, MNA from Mianwali, was removed from consideration due to his recent participation in an NDU workshop where Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed the participants, followed by President Asif Ali Zardari’s session at the university.
Political observers note that with the change in the NA parliamentary group leadership—coming shortly after the appointment of the KP chief minister—comparatively younger and more confrontational figures are being elevated to key positions. Shahid Khattack is regarded as being close to the party’s hardline faction, and this second major posting signals that members associated with more extreme or agitative tendencies are gaining influence within the parliamentary group.
Barrister Gohar Ali also clarified that he would not be among the PTI leaders visiting the party founder in Adiala Jail on Thursday.
