Siddiqui predicts PTI exit from parliament, judges' resignations

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Irfan Siddiqui speaking to journalists outside Parliament House in Islamabad, January 23, 2025. — Screengrab via YouTube/Geo News

 

Siddiqui Predicts PTI Exit from Parliament and Judges’ Resignations: Political Storm Ahead

In a bold proclamation, PML-N stalwart Senator Irfan Siddiqui has predicted that PTI will exit parliament while certain judges may tender resignations in alignment with mutual interests. His remarks have shaken political corridors, fueling speculation about a looming constitutional crisis. In this article, we unpack Siddiqui’s claims, the backdrop of judicial dissent, the PTI’s past committee resignations, and the broader implications for Pakistan’s parliamentary democracy.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Irfan Siddiqui speaking to journalists outside Parliament House in Islamabad, January 23, 2025. — Screengrab via YouTube/Geo NewsPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf may soon leave parliament while some judges are also likely to resign in pursuit of shared...

Siddiqui Predicts PTI Exit from Parliament

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, speaking on September 19, forecasted that PTI’s exit from parliament is likely imminent and may coincide with judges stepping down in coordination. He emphasized that parliamentary standing committees are the “soul of parliament” and that a legitimate opposition must retain roles in these committees if it remains in the legislature. (The News International)

Siddiqui’s remarks came amid PTI’s earlier decision to withdraw from standing committees in both the National Assembly and Senate, under instructions from Imran Khan while incarcerated. Those resignations reduced PTI’s formal presence in parliamentary oversight. Siddiqui argued that abandoning committees and then leaving parliament altogether would amount to self-sabotage. (The News International)

Judges’ Resignations: A Coordinated Move?

Beyond parliamentary exits, Siddiqui suggested that some judges may resign in pursuit of shared interests. He intimated that the resignations could be part of a larger political scheme rather than isolated judicial decisions. (The News International)

In support of this claim, Siddiqui pointed to a fracturing in the higher judiciary. Earlier, four Supreme Court justices—Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, Ayesha Malik, and Athar Minallah—declined to attend a full court meeting called by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to review the SC Rules, 2025. They challenged its legal basis, describing it as cosmetic and a tool for damage control. (The News International)

Siddiqui suggested that continued strain within the judiciary, combined with political pressures, could push certain judges toward resignation as part of a coordinated exit. He warned such actions could deepen institutional instability and further erode public trust in governance. (The News International)

PTI’s Parliamentary Strategy and Previous Resignations

PTI’s withdrawal from standing committees was itself a precursor to the larger exit that Siddiqui predicts. In recent weeks, PTI lawmakers resigned en masse from National Assembly and Senate committees on Khan’s instructions. The party had already announced it would boycott upcoming by-elections as part of its pressure strategy. (The News International)

These resignations deprived PTI of institutional roles and removed direct influence over key oversight functions. It also limited parliamentary debate and scrutiny in critical areas such as finance, law, and national security. Critics warn that this move undermines democratic checks and balances.

Analysts note that PTI’s strategy appears designed to polarize politics—either forcing negotiations from a position of moral high ground or precipitating chaos. Siddiqui claims that what lies ahead is “another major failure and humiliation” if PTI follows through on the exit. (The News International)

Judicial Dissent and Institutional Strain

The judiciary has recently shown visible fractures. The refusal by four judges to attend the full court meeting over SC Rules exposed tensions at the apex courtroom. Their joint letter to the CJP described the session as lacking legal validity and intended for cosmetic damage control. (The News International)

Such dissent underscores deeper fault lines: disagreements over judicial independence, rule-making, and the balance of power between courts, the executive, and legislature. If judges indeed begin resigning, the judiciary may face a legitimacy crisis.

Observers warn that coordinated resignations would set a dangerous precedent: mixing legal institutions with partisan politics. The potential exit of judges could create vacuums in judicial oversight and delay key rulings, particularly in matters involving constitutional law and human rights.

The timing and targeting of resignations may matter. If coordinated with PTI’s parliamentary exit, it could magnify the political fallout and raise questions about systemic manipulation of institutions.

Implications for Pakistan’s Democratic Framework

If PTI exits parliament, critical functions such as debate, accountability, and legislation would be disrupted. Parliament without a strong opposition risks becoming a rubber stamp body, eroding democratic legitimacy.

Coordinated judicial resignations would further exacerbate institutional fragility. Courts play a crucial role in interpreting the constitution, resolving disputes, protecting rights, and checking executive overreach. Their weakening could tilt power to the executive, reducing checks and balances.

A combined parliamentary and judicial withdrawal would also heighten political polarization. Supporters of both sides may view resignations as bold resistance or authoritarian maneuvering. Public confidence in institutions could fall sharply, and governance could enter a crisis mode.

Such a pattern—political exit plus judicial collapse—would ripple outwards: legal uncertainty could slow investment, foreign observers may issue warnings, and the international community could question rule of law in Pakistan.

At the same time, if PTI’s exit is perceived as strategic provocation, it could backfire: voters may hold the party responsible for governance breakdown, or ruling parties might leverage vacancies and show strength in taking over committees.

Possible Scenarios and Stakes Ahead

1.     PTI Walks Out, Judiciary Resists
Even if PTI exits parliament, judges may remain. In that case, the judiciary could serve as the last institutional buffer. But without scrutiny from committees or opposition, courts may face extraordinary pressure.

2.     Joint Exit, Institutional Vacuum
This is the scenario Siddiqui warns about: PTI departs, judges resign, creating a governance vacuum. The result could be emergency measures, caretaker rule, or constitutional interventions.

3.     Staged Resignations with Renegotiation
PTI may signal exit, but hold back from fully quitting. Judges might tender resignation notices without actual resignation. This scenario allows room for negotiation, mediation, or partial retreat.

4.     Pushback and Reversal
Public pressure, legal challenges, or consensus politics might force PTI or judges to retract. Institutional resilience may prevail, and both sides may return to status quo with reforms.

Each scenario carries severe stakes for governance, institutional balance, and Pakistan’s democratic trajectory.

Conclusion

Senator Irfan Siddiqui’s prediction that PTI will exit parliament and judges may resign is not mere rhetoric — it taps into current institutional fault lines and intensifies the uncertainty around Pakistan’s political stability. The move would mark one of the most dramatic disruptions in parliamentary and judicial history. Whether PTI acts and judges follow, or whether maneuvering gives way to negotiation, the outcome will shape how Pakistan navigates relations among its major institutions. For now, the country watches closely.

FAQs

Why does Siddiqui believe PTI will exit parliament?

He sees the trend in PTI’s committee resignations and rising political pressure, and believes full withdrawal is a logical escalation of their strategy. (The News International)

Which judges are speculated to resign?

While unconfirmed, speculation revolves around judges who dissented over judicial procedures or were part of recent internal disputes, such as the four justices who declined a full court meeting. (The News International)

What has PTI done so far regarding parliamentary roles?

PTI lawmakers have already resigned from nearly all parliamentary committees in the National Assembly and Senate, following Imran Khan’s directives. (The News International)

What are the risks of both parliament and judiciary being disabled?

It could lead to institutional breakdown, unchecked executive power, legal uncertainty, governance paralysis, and loss of public trust.

Could these predictions fail to materialize?

Yes. PTI or judges may retract resignations under public or legal pressure. Or the threat may be strategic, not actual.