Murad Saeed, who has been a fugitive since the May 9 riots, is reportedly playing a “divisive role” in exacerbating conflicts within PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) faction. Recent reports indicate that Saeed, despite being on the run, has continued to stay in touch with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other influential PTI leaders.
Saeed is wanted in connection with the violent incidents of May 9 and has been evading capture. Party sources reveal that he still holds substantial influence over key decisions within the K-P government and PTI. Insiders allege that Saeed has been actively working to remove Atif Khan and Shakeel Khan from their positions and has reportedly pressured CM Gandapur to take a firm stance on issues related to Shakeel Khan.
In a recent development, Mishal Yousafzai was dismissed from her role for allegedly arranging a meeting between an opposition leader and PTI founder on Saeed’s instructions.
Saeed, formerly representing NA-4 and serving as the federal minister of communications, has been in hiding since the May 9 events. Earlier this year, the Peshawar High Court directed law enforcement agencies to provide details within a week regarding the criminal cases against him. The court issued notices to high-ranking officials, including the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inspector General of Police, and directors of key agencies, in response to a petition filed by Saeedullah, Saeed’s father, seeking information about any FIRs and detention orders against his son.
Advocate Shah Faisal Uthmankhel, representing Saeedullah, argued that authorities have been uncooperative in disclosing details about the cases against Saeed. He also claimed that Saeed’s attempts to seek legal redress had been obstructed by local police.
In the aftermath of the May 9 protests, many PTI leaders, including Saeed, went into hiding to avoid arrest. In October 2023, Saeed narrowly avoided a police raid at a residence in Peshawar’s Defence Housing Authority, leading to the arrest of his brother-in-law and two staff members. The police charged other family members with aiding Saeed’s escape.
Peshawar Police also conducted a raid on Kamran Bangash’s hujra in Chamkani in October 2023, arresting Bangash instead of Saeed. By January 2024, Saeed and six other PTI members were declared proclaimed offenders by a Lahore anti-terrorism court for failing to comply with arrest warrants. Despite multiple raids, the suspects have remained at large.
