PTI to fortify its foothold in Punjab

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Sunday that it would restructure its presence in Punjab, the largest province of the country and a key stronghold of the party.

PTI Central Punjab General Secretary and Acting Punjab President, Hammad Azhar, announced the decision to reorganise the party's operations throughout the province.

He explained that the interim office-bearers had been fulfilling party duties, following the departure of former office-bearers, who had been elected to the assemblies. He emphasised that permanent office-bearers would be appointed in all districts of Punjab soon.

Last week, Azhar resigned from his roles as the PTI Central Punjab General Secretary and acting Central Punjab President, citing legal challenges hindering his duties.

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In a written communication to PTI Chairman Barrister Gauhar Ali Khan and Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan, Azhar detailed the pressures he faced, including being embroiled in numerous legal cases and being banned from electronic media.

He described repeated “raids on his home, harassment of his family, and the need to relocate them abroad” for their safety. Despite these challenges, Azhar continued to work for the party from an undisclosed location since May 2023.

Azhar stated that after much deliberation, he decided to step down from his roles, expressing concern for the party's well-being and his dedication to its interests. He pledged to remain a loyal and ideological worker of the PTI.

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However, PTI declined to accept Azhar's resignation, urging him to continue his duties. The PTI chairman revealed that he had presented the matter to party founder Imran Khan, who instructed him not to accept Azhar's resignation. Gauhar praised Azhar's dedication and bravery amid challenges faced by the PTI.

Azhar expressed his gratitude for Imran Khan's trust, and acknowledged the weight of responsibility placed on him during this difficult time. He vowed to uphold Imran's trust and continue serving the party diligently.