Mere weeks after imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan cautioned party members against public infighting, another dispute — this time over the leadership of PTI’s Central Punjab chapter — has broken out in full public view on social media.
The controversy erupted after PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja accused unnamed individuals of conspiring against him. His remarks followed a contentious decision to remove Ahmad Chattha and Bilal Ejaz as PTI Central Punjab president and general secretary, respectively — a move reportedly based on instructions conveyed from Imran Khan during an Oct 16 jail meeting with Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Mr Raja.
However, Mr Raja later denied that Khan had ordered any leadership changes in his presence, adding that they would seek confirmation directly from him.
The dispute deepened when Khan’s official X account — which he cannot operate from jail — posted that he had not authorized Chattha or Ejaz’s removal and called them “loyal companions.”
PTI Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza maintained she was only executing Khan’s directives, though insiders accused her of causing confusion and favouring certain individuals, including Ali Imran, who was appointed Punjab spokesman. Hamza rejected claims of a leadership crisis, asserting that Dr Yasmin Rashid remained the official provincial president.
Adding to the turmoil, another row emerged over who was authorized to submit visitor lists for access to Khan at Adiala Jail.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling designating the secretary general as responsible, both Mr Raja and Barrister Ali Zafar sent separate lists to jail authorities, prompting further embarrassment among senior PTI members, who admitted the ongoing disputes were making a mockery of the party’s internal discipline.
