Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has indicated that the party is seriously thinking about exiting the current political system, citing continued denial of political space.

His statement came after an incident where he claimed that police briefly detained him, causing him to miss a scheduled flight to Skardu where he was supposed to participate in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) election campaign.Speaking on a television programme, Qaiser said that he was held for around 40 minutes and only released after his flight had already departed.He questioned the credibility of the upcoming GB elections, suggesting that under such conditions, the process risks losing legitimacy.He remarked that such an environment makes elections questionable and even compared it unfavourably to a “selection.

” Qaiser emphasised the need for a new Charter of Democracy in Pakistan, stressing that all political parties must be given equal opportunity and confidence in the Election Commission.According to him, only free, fair, and transparent elections can ensure political stability and progress in the country.

He further warned that if PTI’s mandate continues to be disregarded and political space remains restricted, the party may be forced to take strong steps, including exiting the system altogether.However, he clarified that no final decision has been made yet and multiple options are still under consideration.

On the other hand, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry rejected PTI’s allegations, stating that security arrangements in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were tightened due to the presence of the Australian cricket team.He maintained that any action taken was purely based on security concerns and not intended to obstruct Qaiser or his political activities.The government also reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.