Barrister Ali Zafar
In a significant development for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), grappling with a perceived leadership crisis, Barrister Ali Zafar withdrew his candidacy for the PTI chairman position on Sunday.
Initially nominated by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Zafar held a crucial role within the party, serving as a representative in the Senate and actively participating in the legal team handling various cases across multiple courts.
The announcement of fresh intra-party elections on March 3 came in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision favoring the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The court upheld the ECP’s plea, declaring the PTI’s previous intra-party elections null and void due to administrative irregularities and non-compliance with the party’s Constitution, the Election Act 2017, and Election Rules 2017.
Under the PTI’s election schedule, nomination papers for intra-party polls were to be submitted on February 23 and 24, with scrutiny taking place on February 25. Final decisions on nominations were scheduled for February 27, and polling was set for March 3 at the party’s central office and provincial secretariats.
Barrister Zafar cited a potential conflict of interest as the reason for his withdrawal, expressing concern that his role as chairman might clash with his efforts to secure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan from jail. Zafar emphasized the importance of avoiding conflicts that could compromise his professional responsibilities.
Notably, internal tensions within the PTI surfaced when prominent leader Sher Afzal Marwat issued a show-cause notice, alleging the removal of former chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan due to “incompetence and poor performance.”
However, a video surfaced on social media showing the two leaders reconciling and embracing, with Marwat clarifying his earlier statement and asserting unity within the party.
The withdrawal of Barrister Ali Zafar adds another layer of complexity to the PTI’s internal dynamics, heightening the challenges the party faces in navigating its leadership and organizational issues.
