Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed that those who have changed the party loyalties by voting for the 26th Constitutional Amendment would not be spared.

“Those who have changed their loyalties will be held accountable and will not be spared,” he said while addressing the KP Assembly on Monday. “We will not let this go down easily.”

The government narrowly passed constitutional amendments on Monday giving lawmakers more power to appoint top judges, who have issued a series of recent decisions favouring opposition chief Imran Khan.

Since February elections marred by rigging allegations, relations have soured between Islamabad and the top courts as rulings litigating results have backed the party of jailed ex-prime minister Khan.

Under the judicial reforms passed during an early morning session of parliament, Pakistan’s chief justice will now be selected by a parliamentary committee and have a fixed term of three years.

Gandapur criticised the government with a “fake mandate,” claiming it has attacked the judiciary by appointing favoured individuals to make decisions, which he believes hinders the progress of institutions.

He accused the government of taking “unconstitutional actions under the cover of darkness,” alleging that the amendment was made solely to benefit the elite.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Qaiser stated that all senators and MNAs who have “sold their conscience and betrayed the party are traitors” and should have their party memberships suspended immediately.

“The nation will hold these traitors accountable, and the party must take strict action against them by immediately suspending their memberships.”

In a social media post, he alleged that the amendment was passed in an unconstitutional manner. He described the amendment as “unethical” and likely to escalate tensions between institutions, questioning the urgency behind its swift passage.

Qaiser highlighted the alleged buying of votes, stating: “Everyone knows how votes were purchased unconstitutionally. Those who advocate respect for votes have disrespected them. Members were sold for money and the dignity of Parliament was undermined, violating both privacy and sanctity.”

He criticised the way the amendment was approved in the Senate, claiming it occurred through “illegal means” as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was inadequately represented.

Qaiser, the former NA speaker, further questioned PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, asking: “Is this the democracy of the Pakistan Peoples Party? The amendment was passed by buying members and intimidating them, even threatening their sisters and daughters.”

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It is noteworthy that four MNAs who won PTI tickets voted in favour of the constitutional amendment in the National Assembly. Furthermore, Sher Afzal Marwat claimed that more MNAs were ready to betray the party.

Qaiser expressed his appreciation for those MNAs and senators, particularly from Punjab, who stood firm with the party and its founder.

He added that the PTI founder was fighting against “unconstitutional forces” that work against the Constitution, law, and public interests. “This struggle is for the supremacy of law and the Constitution,” he stated.