Rawalpindi, February 25, 2025: Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has directed party members holding government positions to step down from their party roles. The instructions were conveyed on Tuesday through PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who spoke to journalists after meeting the former prime minister at Adiala Jail.
According to Raja, the move is intended to give Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s newly appointed PTI chapter president, Junaid Akbar, a “free hand” in restructuring the party. Last month, Imran removed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from his role as PTI’s provincial president and replaced him with Akbar. The party clarified that Gandapur had requested to be relieved of his position to focus on the province’s governance challenges, particularly the deteriorating law and order situation, including the ongoing unrest in Kurram and Parachinar.
Following his appointment, Akbar hinted at a major reshuffle within the party, stating that “hardliners” would be given key roles while the “homoeopathic leadership” would be sidelined. The restructuring is scheduled for May this year.
Addressing concerns about Imran’s health, Raja assured the media that the former premier was in good condition. He also relayed Imran’s claim that the Adiala Jail administration was under the control of “unseen forces” and announced that Khan would write to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi regarding issues within the prison system.
Raja further shared that the PTI delegation had briefed Imran on their recent visit to Sindh, particularly regarding resistance to dam construction. “Imran has vowed that PTI will fight for the rights of Sindh,” he added.
Referring to PTI’s ongoing political stance, Raja quoted Imran as saying that the party was committed to serving the people of Pakistan. He strongly criticized the Punjab government, accusing it of “continued fascism.” When asked about PTI’s meeting with the chief justice, Raja confirmed that it was done with Imran’s approval. “He instructed us to inform the top judge about the country’s overall situation,” he said.
Raja reaffirmed that PTI would continue engaging with national institutions, stating, “We are stakeholders of Pakistan and will knock on the doors of every institution.” He also made it clear that there was no place in the party for those who had voted in favor of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. “The fate of those who were absent or out of touch during the amendment’s passage will be decided one by one,” he warned.
On a lighter note, Raja revealed that Imran was deeply saddened by Pakistan’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy. “The people of Pakistan have a deep connection with cricket,” he said, adding that the sport had been “reduced to a joke” in recent years.
