As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) internal rifts make headlines, former prime minister (PM) and party founder Imran Khan has told Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and his sister Aleema Khan to avoid issuing statements against each other.
According to reports, the instructions were conveyed by PTI Senator Ali Zafar as Imran also urgently summoned CM Gandapur for a meeting at Adiala Jail.
Addressing speculation during a media briefing outside the jail, Zafar said that the jailed former premier’s urgent summon for Gandapur was for a meeting and not a reprimand.
Rubbishing reports of the KP chief executive’s possible sacking, Zafar said that disagreements should not be aired publicly.
He also confirmed that the founder had nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai to act as the opposition leader pending the resolution of Omar Ayub’s legal cases.
It merits a mention that the development comes days after CM Gandapur accused Aleema of creating a divide within the party and alleged that she was being facilitated by the Military Intelligence (MI) and “establishment.”
“Imran Khan is my leader and I am loyal to him. It is my right to convey the truth to him … I made him aware of all that has been happening [during my meeting with him yesterday],” he said in a video statement.
The KP CM said that he had conveyed to the party founder that Aleema had a big role in dividing the party and some members being discredited. He also alleged that no steps were being taken for Khan’s release. “Instead, there is groupism in party which some people are using to serve their own interests.”
He alleged that Aleema was in contact with “vloggers” working to create divide in the party. “And instead of stopping them… she is provoking them. And Hafeezullah Niazi sahib refers to Aleema Khan as the prime minister in his articles. He writes that she should become the party chairperson,” he alleged.
Last week, unconfirmed reports had also quoted Khan as barring his sister Aleema from interfering in party matters.