The study aims to explore the perception of organizational politics (OP) within public sector higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan. The study’s primary objective is to investigate the implications of OP in HRM processes including selection, evaluation, and promotion criteria. It is anticipated that the study findings will provide possible alternative recommendations on how to mitigate the negative influence of this phenomenon. Considering the qualitative nature of the study, transcendental phenomenology is chosen as the research method for this study. The semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection by adopting a purposive sampling technique. The data was analyzed using atlasti software. Out of six identified themes, three were selected for detailed analysis. The study findings revealed the significant involvement of OP in HRM practices within Pakistani HEIs, emphasizing the need for effective strategies to address this critical issue.