The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) responded on Tuesday to statements from a “senior leader,” emphatically disputing reports that PTI Chairman Imran Khan would not participate in intra-party elections for party chairman, who is now in jail in Adiala.
Earlier in the day, PTI senior vice president Sher Afzal Khan Marwat indicated that Imran Khan decided to miss the election due to legal constraints and his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.
Marwat told PTI social media representatives outside Adiala jail that this decision took place collectively and will be reversed once the disqualification issue was resolved.
In contrast to Marwat’s remarks, the PTI published a statement on X, dismissing any media speculation about Imran Khan’s participation in intra-party polls.
The party stated that ongoing conversations dealt with crucial electoral issues, but that no decision made regarding Imran’s withdrawal or the nomination of an alternate leader. The statement assured that the details of intra-party polls, including the date, procedure, and candidate selection, will announced to the media as soon as the party leadership conclude discussions.
Marwat responded by expressing his perplexity at the contradiction and confirming the authenticity of his previous statement.
He urged the media to confirm his comments with particular people seated there at the decisions, including Senator Ali Zafar, Barrister Gohar Umair Niazi, and himself.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) urged the PTI last week to hold intra-party elections within 20 days in order to keep the party symbol. PTI challenged the directive in the Sindh High Court, claiming it’s an attempt to keep the party out of elections.
The ECP issued a final warning in August, indicating that the polls, originally schedule for June 13, 2021, granted a year’s extension but needed to take place as soon as possible.
