PTI undergoes major Punjab reshuffle as Hammad resigns

MPA Ali Imtiaz appointed as new parliamentary leader

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has undergone a significant reshuffle in its provincial and district leadership in Punjab, alongside a pivotal change in the party's parliamentary leadership.

The shakeup follows a notification issued by PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan, who announced the appointment of MPA Ali Imtiaz Warriach as the new parliamentary leader of the Punjab Parliamentary Party.

The recent changes come amidst a dramatic development within the party following a poor power show in the province. Hammad Azhar, who served as the acting president and general secretary of PTI Central Punjab, resigned from his position.

While the PTI may believe it is making strides to improve its provincial organisation, it has been dealt some major blows as PTI Lahore President Chaudhry Asghar Gujjar and Lahore General Secretary Hafiz Zeeshan also stepped down from their responsibilities just hours after Azhar's redignation.

In a detailed social media post, Azhar criticised the party's internal decision-making process and expressed his discontent with the current state of affairs within PTI. Azhar's resignation is marked by his frustration over what he perceives as inadequate communication with PTI founder Imran Khan.

He highlights that decreased accessibility to the party founder's and restricted movement are significant factors contributing to his decision to step down.

Azhar indicates that many critical decisions within Punjab have been influenced by lobbying rather than merit. He believes this has led to a situation in which party members, with limited access to Khan, have made unilateral decisions.

One focal point of Azhar's criticism is the recent removal of Chaudhry Asghar as the Lahore President. Azhar accuses key figures within the party of misleading Khan with false information, ultimately resulting in Asghar's ouster.

Azhar points out that Asghar, who had served a two-month prison term, won an election in Nawaz Sharif's constituency and was elected as the PTI's Lahore president three months ago. Azhar praised Asghar's leadership, particularly highlighting his role in organising significant protests and rallies, despite facing numerous challenges and having to make personal sacrifices.

Azhar expressed disappointment over the internal party dynamics that he believes allowed vested interests to manipulate decisions due to the lack of direct communication with Imran.

He argues that major organisational responsibilities should be entrusted to individuals with direct access to the party's founder to ensure transparent and effective management.

Azhar's resignation reflects his broader concern that without adequate communication channels, party decisions are increasingly driven by personal interests rather than collective merit.

In a subsequent social media post, Azhar reaffirmed his loyalty to Imran Khan, referring to him as his "Quaid" and vowing to support him. He reflected on the party's achievements and challenges, noting that while the party was united before the general elections, internal divisions have emerged since.

Azhar stressed the need for a unified strategy and warned against allowing divergent opinions within PTI, advocating for a streamlined approach to decision making.

In the latest developments, party secretary Omar Ayub rejected the resignation of Hammad Azhar.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar has voiced strong criticism on the Punjab government's treatment of opposition members during Independence Day celebrations.

At a press conference attended by Punjab Assembly members and PTI leaders, Bhachar condemned the detention of party workers and the registration of cases against assembly members. He accused the government of a prolonged campaign against PTI and called for a transparent investigation into the events of May 9.

Bhachar also expressed concern over recent legislative actions, alleging that they are driven by personal agendas rather than democratic principles. He warns that such practices could be detrimental to the democratic process in Pakistan and vowed that PTI would soon launch a major movement to address these grievances.