PTI dismisses reports of internal rifts as Dogar signals possible resumption of talks with government

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Whip Malik Aamir Dogar said talks with the government could resume in the coming days as the party on Wednesday dismissed reports of internal divisions over the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief ministership, party leadership and fears of a possible forward bloc. A day earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said a ban on the PTI was no longer necessary after the imposition of governor’s rule in K-P. The government and opposition failed to reach an agreement, and the emergency and governor’s rule were declared on October 11 after negotiations failed, following a PTI long march towards Islamabad that began on October 4. Last week, a joint session of parliament adopted two separate resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor’s rule in K-P for two months, amid protests from the opposition. Before that, both houses of parliament had separately approved the emergency in the province by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite objections from opposition lawmakers. Speaking exclusively to The Express Tribune, Dogar rejected reports of internal divisions, saying there were no differences within the parliamentary party. He expressed full confidence in opposition leaders Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, saying they had been entrusted with responsibilities by the party’s founding chairman and that party members were expected to support them. On the possibility of changing the opposition leader, Dogar said no such decision could be taken without the founding chairman’s approval. Read: PHC seeks Centre’s response over imposition of emergency, governor’s rule in K-P Addressing the speculations around the office of the chief minister in K-P, he maintained that Sohail Afridi remained the province’s constitutional and lawful chief minister and continued to hold the office with the confidence of the founding chairman. “No one else can become chief minister without the founding chairman’s consent,” he said, warning that any attempt to replace Afridi sans approval would amount to stabbing the party in the back. He insisted that Afridi would remain the chief minister, while alleging that certain elements were seeking to deepen divisions within the party. Criticising the prevailing political climate, the PTI chief whip said, “Fascism is at its peak,” adding that PTI was facing “unprecedented repression”. He claimed that more than 10 of the party’s MNAs were in jail. He further underscored that PTI believed in dialogue and expressed hope that negotiations with the government would resume in the coming days. Audio controversy adds to tensions The reported emergence of an audio recording allegedly featuring former K-P chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur criticising PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja added another dimension to the unfolding controversy. In the said recording, Gandapur is said to have blamed Raja’s “mismanagement and flawed planning” for the provincial government’s dismissal and the party’s current predicament. According to statements attributed to Gandapur, PTI was now bearing the consequences of Raja’s mistakes and poor planning. He further said the founding chairman had given Raja authority, but he had failed to use it effectively to deliver desired results. The authenticity of the recording could not be independently verified by The Express Tribune. He also expressed anger over Raja’s recent social media post, demanding that the party secretary general delete it, apologise and explain the allegations he had made. Separately, in a social media post, the former chief minister lambasted Raja for his post on X, calling it “extremely regrettable, irresponsible, and damaging to the internal unity of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”. Earlier in the day, Raja had warned that PTI’s internal unity was allegedly being targeted by what he described as undemocratic decision-makers in a post on X. “There is currently an attack by undemocratic decision-makers on the internal consensus within PTI. A narrative is being spread that 68 members of the K-P Assembly are set to announce the provincial president and the candidate for the next Chief Minister as a group without the permission of Imran Khan sahib and the party's Political Committee,” he stated on X. Raja further asserted that the group had cut off contact with Afridi and his team during the final days of the crisis, paving the way for what he described as state coercion, an emergency and governor’s rule. Read more: 'No link between K-P emergency, minerals' He urged party workers and leaders not to believe any conspiracy narrative until an investigation had been completed. Clarifying the provincial governance structure of the party, Raja said, “Junaid Akbar sahib remains the constitutionally appointed president of the party in K-P. His appointment was made personally by Imran Khan sahib. In his absence, the province's General Secretary Ali Asghar Khan sahib is the acting president.” Raja also maintained that Afridi remained the chief minister under the Constitution and the law. He ended his post with a strong warning against those allegedly spreading mistrust within the party. Gandapur called on the PTI secretary general to give evidence to prove his claims. “You have mentioned ‘undemocratic decision-makers’ and an alleged group's conspiracy. First, clarify who these people are. Which assembly members are being accused of wanting to decide on the provincial president or next chief minister without Imran Khan's and the political committee's permission? If you have evidence, bring the names forward,” he said, adding, “Similarly, on what basis is this serious allegation being made that a group cut off contact with Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi and his team to pave the way for emergency rule and governor's rule?” He also said party members did not need loyalty certificates from anyone. “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa stood with Imran Khan, stands with him, and will continue to stand with him. For this loyalty, we do not need anyone's confirmation or permission.” Barrister Gohar says party remains united Amid the exchange of statements, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told The Express Tribune via telephone that he had directed party leaders to stop issuing statements against one another. He said he had spoken to Gandapur, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Ali Asghar Khan and Raja, adding that the party remained united. Gohar maintained that PTI’s members of the provincial assembly were united and had neither violated party policy nor intended to do so in the future. He said he was proud of the party’s elected representatives and that the founding chairman was proud of them as well. Reiterating the party’s position on the provincial leadership, Gohar said Afridi “was, is and will remain” the chief minister of K-P.

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