Expressing frustration over internal party issues, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehryar Afridi stated on Sunday that he has been maintaining silence for the sake of party unity and out of respect for the founder, Imran Khan.
Speaking to PTI workers in Peshawar, Afridi revealed that there were matters within the party that compelled him to remain quiet. “I can’t tell you the pain I am undergoing, however, the party’s code of conduct should be adopted by us,” he said.
Afridi mentioned he is waiting for the right moment to speak out but acknowledged that silence on certain issues would be “criminal.” He noted his denied attempt to meet the party founder on May 24 and expressed a desire to meet Imran Khan.
“Enough is enough, if we are sincere, we have to ensure the release of the PTI founder,” Afridi stated.
Following Khan’s incarceration after the violent incidents of May 9, several rifts have emerged within the PTI. Initially, conflicts arose between the political and legal leadership of the party, and later, Sher Afzal Marwat became a focal point of discord.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar commented on March 25 about the “internal strife” within the PTI, suggesting that a power struggle could lead to the party’s disintegration or the creation of a forward block.
During a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar highlighted the contradictory stances of top PTI leaders like Gohar Ali Khan and Sher Afzal Khan, criticizing the “childish attitude” of the national party. He advised PTI leaders to abandon internal politics and focus on strengthening the economy.
