A significant internal disagreement has surfaced within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with senior leader and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja publicly disavowing a controversial statement made by the party’s Chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
The rift emerged after Barrister Gohar stated that the time had come for “begging” to facilitate meetings with the incarcerated party founder, former Prime Minister Imran Khan. He further suggested that “others and his own people” were involved in creating obstacles for these meetings.
Reacting sharply, Salman Akram Raja categorically termed Gohar’s remarks as being “against the party’s stance” and announced that the statement had been officially denied at the party level. He asserted that Barrister Gohar had “spoke in haste” and that the PTI was “not begging in any respect,” calling the specific word “completely inappropriate.”
Raja sought to clarify the party’s position, emphasizing that the PTI had not committed any mistake that could justify the ongoing restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan. He framed the issue as one of principle and legality rather than a favor to be requested.
The Secretary General laid down a clear precondition for any future political engagement, stating, “talks with the government will take place only when the illegal restrictions on the PTI founder are removed.” This statement reinforces the party’s official line that dialogue is contingent upon the restoration of what it deems Imran Khan’s fundamental rights.
The public contradiction between the party chairman and its secretary general highlights internal tensions and differing perceptions on strategy regarding the party’s approach to its founder’s imprisonment and negotiations with the current administration.
Meanwhile the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister CM Sohail Afridi has announced an official visit to Sindh, scheduled for next Friday.
The announcement was made by KP Government Information Advisor Shafi Jan, who stated that the Chief Minister will undertake the visit alongside members of the provincial assembly. This trip follows CM Afridi’s recent visit to Punjab, marking a deliberate outreach to another major province.
The itinerary for the Sindh visit includes key meetings with civil society representatives and the leadership of his political party in the province. A significant highlight of the schedule will be an address by Chief Minister Afridi to the Sindh Bar Association, indicating a focus on engaging with the legal fraternity and potentially discussing matters of inter-provincial coordination and governance.
