Zulfiqar Ahmad | Chitral Today
Peshawar, Sept 5, 2025: Tempers erupted outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday as two women lawmakers from Chitral clashed in a bitter showdown over constituency representation and alleged corruption.
Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Khadija Sardar of the Awami National Party (ANP) exchanged sharp words, highlighting deep political rifts over the remote mountainous region.
The confrontation began when Khadija Sardar criticized Class-IV recruitment practices in Upper Chitral, prompting a fierce response from Suriya, who represents PK-01 (Upper Chitral) through a direct election.
“You spoke about Class-IV recruitments in my constituency. Don’t you dare speak on my turf again. If you have proof, bring it to the Assembly floor,” Suriya said.
Khadija, who holds her seat via the women’s reserved quota, refused to back down. “Stop making public threats. I will expose the truth to the people,” she said, claiming joint ownership of Upper Chitral alongside Suriya and vowing to investigate alleged corruption.
The verbal spat escalated when Khadija lodged a formal complaint against Surriya in the Speaker’s chamber, intensifying tensions.
Observers say the clash underscores ongoing friction between lawmakers with direct electoral mandates and those entering via reserved seats, especially in regions like Chitral, which often feel sidelined in provincial politics.
Both lawmakers hail from Chitral, but their political journeys differ: Suriya earned her seat through a competitive election, while Khadija was nominated via party quota – a dynamic that has fueled resentment among PTI ranks.
The incident highlights not only a battle over local representation but also broader concerns about governance and recruitment practices in the province.