The senior leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is embroiled in a verbal dispute over the matter of meetings with the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan.
Sources claimed that the list provided to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail officials did not include the names of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar, yet they both met with the party founder. This has led to objections from some senior PTI members, as reported by The News.
On Wednesday, Barrister Gohar expressed serious concerns regarding the use of the term “manzoor-e-nazar” (favorite). Speaking to journalists at the Parliament House, he stated that the PTI founder has faith in everyone and that Zafar is an honest individual.
“I express serious reservations about the word ‘manzoor-e-nazar,’ but I want to unite the party even if I have to relinquish my position,” he emphasized.
Senator Zafar, the leader of the opposition in the Senate, then expressed regret over PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja’s “allegations.” Speaking to journalists outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the PTI legislator claimed that Raja’s remarks about the meeting with the party’s founder had ignited a new dispute. He stated that Imran had instructed him to approach the Supreme Court regarding the permission to hold the meeting.
Senator Zafar added that everyone has the right to meet Imran Khan. He noted that the former prime minister has stated his willingness to speak with anyone in the country’s interest.
Speaking to the media at the IHC earlier, Raja said that it had been agreed upon that he would provide the names of six lawyers. However, on Tuesday, only the “manzoor-e-nazar” were permitted to meet with the party chairman, and the names of the six lawyers he provided were not granted permission, the PTI Secretary General stated.
He clarified that Imran did not call anyone on Tuesday and spoke only with his family, who were all well. He categorically stated that anyone whose name was not on the list should not meet the party founder in the future.
According to party sources, a heated exchange occurred between the PTI chairman and general secretary on Tuesday at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Islamabad, after the party leadership returned from Adiala jail. It has been reported that some party leaders have attempted to reconcile the two.
Separately, Gohar stated on Wednesday that the party founder and former premier, Imran, has endorsed calls for Pakistan to become a “hard state” and stressed the importance of ensuring equal justice for all citizens.
Speaking to Geo News, he quoted Imran as saying that a “hard state” would guarantee the rule of law and the uniform implementation of justice. He added that the founding chairman emphasized that Pakistan should not remain a soft state where the law is not consistently upheld.
Meanwhile, ousted PTI leader and current MNA Sher Afzal Marwat revealed that there are three pressure groups within the party, with the PTI’s social media playing a significant role in shaping its narrative.
Speaking to Geo News, Marwat explained that one of the three pressure groups within the PTI is the party’s media, particularly YouTubers, who created the narrative for financial gain, while the party and Imran Khan had to bear the consequences in Pakistan.
He alleged that this media played a significant role in creating divisions and chaos within the PTI. He continued that the second major group, in his opinion, is the KP leadership, which is being targeted at the behest of people from Punjab. “The reason for this is that only in Pakhtunkhwa is there a PTI organization, while in the other three provinces, there is no party organization,” he noted.
Regarding negotiations with the establishment, Marwat stated that the PTI and the establishment have engaged three times, but the party failed to capitalize on these engagements. He added that the party is again hoping for negotiations with the establishment, but the establishment has not shown seriousness this time.
Regarding the narrative of Asad Qaiser being labeled a conspirator within the party, he stated that he does not agree with that assessment. “The party founder is being misled about Ali Amin Gandapur so that maximum damage can be done to him,” he believed.
On the question of the threat to the KP chief minister’s position, Marwat said that anything can happen in the PTI at any time, and decisions are made based on hearsay.
