Differences within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have begun to surface, with senior party leaders exchanging serious allegations and issuing threats against one another.
Differences emerged within PTI following a social media post by Salman Akram Raja, with former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and provincial assembly members strongly criticising his stance.
In his post, Salman Akram Raja urged party members not to believe in any conspiracy narrative, saying that Ali Asghar had become acting provincial president after Junaid Akbar. Referring to those spreading doubts, he called them “snakes and their offspring” and said they would be defeated. He added that undemocratic decision-makers were attacking unity within the party.
Meanwhile, an audio message from former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, reportedly leaked from a party group, has also surfaced. In the message, he said that the party did not belong to anyone’s father and that decisions should be made by the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan.
He said the founder’s every directive had been followed in the past and would continue to be obeyed in the future.
Criticising Salman Akram Raja, Gandapur said it was not his authority to accuse anyone of being a snake or its offspring.
“Understand this. If you are unable to understand, we have ways of making you understand. If you cannot stomach one position, we have medicine to help you digest it,” he said.
Meanwhile, PTI members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly also expressed serious reservations over Salman Akram Raja’s post.
The lawmakers said it was regrettable to level allegations against elected representatives instead of standing by them during the most difficult political circumstances. They said provincial representatives were facing challenges, including political pressure, legal cases and arrests.
PTI lawmakers demanded that the parliamentary party’s views, ground realities and the mandate of elected representatives be given fundamental importance in provincial affairs and political decisions. They maintained that all party decisions should be made through mutual consultation, respect and trust.
Gandapur Demands Apology and Deletion of Post
Reacting further, Ali Amin Gandapur said the party was now suffering the consequences of their mistakes and poor planning. He said Imran Khan had given them authority, but they had neither been able to exercise it nor deliver results.
Gandapur also expressed anger over Salman Akram Raja’s latest post, demanding that it be deleted.
He called on Raja to apologise for the post, questioning how he could allege that efforts were being made to shape a particular opinion. Gandapur said they respected Raja because of the party’s founding chairman, adding that he did not know who was feeding such information to him.
Gandapur further said that Salman Akram Raja was invited to meetings of the parliamentary committee but did not attend them. He urged Raja to apologise for his post and explain the allegations he had levelled.
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