Imran ‘instructs’ Marwat to shut down

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan reportedly directed party’s Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Marwat on Wednesday to suspend all political activities in following his tweet on social media platform of X in which he attacked senior party leaders.

In his post on X, Marwat wrote that he would not be distracted and urged the PTI activists to “deal [with] all the satanic forces” on their own.” According to an Express News report, Imran asked Marwat to return to Islamabad, directing him to suspend any ongoing political engagements until further notice.

On Sunday, Marwat had launched the PTI’s election campaign in Sindh but later announced calling it off because of the statements given against him by “sick-minded people” like Raoof Hasan and Hamid Khan. But later he had said that he would continue to campaigning Sindh.

“Why these people are targeting me? Did I ever talk against them? I am so disheartened and feel so dejected. We were [supposed] to hold conventions in Sanghar and Nawabshah today but after being attacked by my own party senior lot, I am cancelling all my programmes and events,” he wrote on X.

Before that he had described President Arif Alvi as a “wrong number”. In videos on social media, he had claimed that Alvi’s son had applied for a PTI ticket but he had opposed the move. Marwat maintained that Alvi had “conspired” against the party.

In response to this statement, PTI’s Raoof Hasan told a private TV channel that Marwat did not reflect the party’s position. He added that the PTI “did not own” Marwat’s statements. Hasan also denied that Marwat met with Imran in jail.

Likewise, PTI’s Hamid Khan—in a video circulating on the social media – maintained that he did not “recognise” Marwat. Similar to what Hasan had said, Hamid Khan added that Marwat was not representing the party.

Meanwhile, Marwat’s tweets and his attacks on senior party leaders did not figure in Imran’s media talk at the Adiala Jail. However, the PTI founder appeared optimistic about the success of the party in the upcoming general elections despite all odds.

Also read: Imran promises ‘Plan C’ shocker on Feb 8

Imran has suggested that the name of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif should be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) until the election, saying that after losing the election on February 8, Nawaz might flee to London again.

He predicted “different scenes” on February 8 in the wake of the PTI’s ‘Plan C’. The election day, he said, would be shocking for the opponents. When asked about the ‘Plan C’, he stressed that it could not be revealed otherwise his supporters would be picked up.

He used the term “software updates” for those who were picked up by the authorities and later gave press conferences to part their ways with the PTI. “Individuals are being picked up, and it is later revealed that their software has been updated,” he said.

Speaking about the challenges being faced by the party in the elections, he said that the entire leadership of the PTI was picked up. Even the party’s election symbol of ‘bat’ had been taken away and the PTI candidates were given undesirable symbols.

Imran called upon the Supreme Court to investigate human rights violations, particularly the registration of criminal cases against the PTI candidates during election campaign. “When and where our candidates will go out for the election campaign,” he asked.

He stated that the nation would have to decide whether to remain a slave or live as a free nation. “This war is the war of freedom. Do we always have to be slaves to the powerful? I will not accept slavery,” he said, adding: “Nawaz Sharif is silent because he has accepted slavery.”

Referring to the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf-era political amnesty through the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), 2007, Imran said that his political rivals had gathered in Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to seek another NRO. “We cannot have any alliance with NRO takers.”

He reiterated his earlier stance that the country would not progress until a rigorous accountability and the rule of law. He questioned authorities’ focus on “arresting PTI members” and urged them to inquire about alleged misconduct by figures like Maryam Nawaz and Asif Ali Zardari.