Arif Alvi to lead PTI's reconciliation efforts

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) moved to resolve intra-party rifts, forming a committee headed by former president Arif Alvi, to present recommendations for the reconciliation among party leaders on various issues, it was learnt on Sunday.

According to party sources, Alvi was expected to meet with the disgruntled party leaders and hear their concerns. The former president will likely present his recommendations within a week to address the ongoing disputes.

There are reports of increasing tensions between the party leadership at both the central and provincial levels. Because of the rifts, several party stalwarts had either resigned or went on the sidelines.

The PTI recently revoked the basic membership of former senior vice president and National Assembly Member Sher Afzal Marwat. Additionally, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa minister for communication and works Shakeel Khan was forced to resign.

On August 15, PTI leader Hammad Azhar announced his resignation as the PTI's Punjab president, citing internal lobbying as a key reason. "Unfortunately, I no longer have access to Imran Khan," Azhar had tweeted at that time. "I did not hold any press conference, nor did I make any deal."

Meanwhile, the eleventh-hour postponement of the PTI rally in Islamabad, which was scheduled for August 22, has not gone well with the party workers. Disappointment and anger were some of the sentiments they expressed while talking about the decision of cancelling the rally.