Signs of discord within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa became evident on Sunday when over 25 lawmakers were absent from a parliamentary party meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar. The gathering, led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saw attendance from only 75 of the 92 parliamentary party members.
Among those missing were notable figures such as former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Fazal Elahi, and Nek Muhammad. Many absent members cited overseas commitments or other engagements as reasons for not attending. Additionally, some lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the chief minister, particularly after being excluded from the provincial cabinet.
During the meeting, CM Afridi emphasized the strong turnout despite what he described as ongoing attempts to sow division within the party. He welcomed the attending members and asserted that no force could break their unity or deter them from following Imran Khan’s ideology. Afridi highlighted that opposition efforts to create fractures in PTI had failed to weaken the party’s resolve.
The agenda included updates on PTI founder Imran Khan’s health and discussions on the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Afridi raised concerns over Khan’s medical condition, revealing that the former prime minister had lost 85% vision in one eye. He demanded that Khan be allowed to receive treatment from doctors and hospitals of his choice, accompanied by his family, criticizing restrictions on PTI leaders’ access to him.
Furthermore, Afridi accused the federal government of denying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa its due rights, claiming that supplies of gas and wheat to the province had been stopped. He stated that the federal government owed KP over Rs4.5 trillion and mentioned ongoing collaboration with other political parties to secure the province’s entitlements. Afridi assured that the forthcoming budget would be people-centric and that development initiatives would align with Khan’s vision.
In a significant development, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan dismissed rumors of a factional split within the party or the KP government. He affirmed that all members remained united under Imran Khan’s leadership. Gohar acknowledged that differing opinions are natural in a democratic setup but stressed that decisions would be made through consensus. He confirmed that all members except those abroad attended the meeting and rejected claims that provincial affairs were managed by individuals acting independently.
Gohar reiterated that the government operates under the guidance of Imran Khan and that CM Afridi enjoys his full support. He emphasized the party’s commitment to standing by Afridi and strengthening PTI’s government in the province.
Earlier, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan also refuted reports of any forward bloc within PTI, affirming that all lawmakers continue to back the chief minister. He warned that any member deviating from the party line would face severe political repercussions. “There is no forward bloc in PTI. Anyone who strays from the PTI founder’s direction will jeopardize their political future,” he stated.
