ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Ali Zafar has denied reports claiming that he met with party founder Imran Khan to discuss changes in the party leadership, including the nomination of Asad Qaiser as PTI chairman, as reported by local media on Thursday.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Barrister Zafar refuted the rumours, clarifying, “A fake news attributed to me is making rounds that Asad Qaiser and Ali Muhammad Khan have been ap-pointed chairman and secretary general. I have not given any such statement.”
The denial comes after reports surfaced suggesting that Imran Khan had removed Barrister Gohar Ali Khan from the position of PTI chairman and nominated Asad Qaiser, the former National Assembly speaker, as his replacement.
These reports further claimed that Khan’s decision was aimed at giving seasoned leaders an oppor-tunity to lead the party through its current turmoil.
Reports also indicated that PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had resigned after the protest, though some sources suggest his resignation was forced by the party leadership. Speculation has grown that Raja’s resignation could be followed by further departures within the party.
The PTI has faced significant unrest following the arrest of hundreds of its workers during a large-scale operation by authorities against PTI protesters in Islamabad. The operation, aimed at quelling PTI’s de-fiant protests, has further exacerbated the party’s internal struggles.
The recent speculation regarding leadership changes in PTI comes as the party grapples with its weak-ened position following Imran Khan’s ongoing legal battles and the internal fallout from the May 9 pro-tests.
PTI leaders, including Khan himself, have come under fire after the protest at D-Chowk ended without the release of the party founder, who remains incarcerated.
Since the authorities launched a sweeping operation to detain party protesters, hundreds of PTI workers have been arrested, leading to heightened criticism of the party’s current direction.
Despite the crackdown, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced that the PTI would continue its sit-ins across Pakistan, vowing to push for the release of Imran Khan and uphold the party’s stance on democracy and rule of law. –Agencies
