Salman Akram Raja resigns as PTI secretary general

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja resigned from his position on Thursday, following continuous criticism of his leadership.

According to reports from Express News, Raja’s resignation came after sustained pressure and dissatisfaction from within the party, particularly regarding his handling of protests.

Raja had been nominated for the position of PTI Secretary General following the resignation of former Secretary General Omar Ayub, who officially stepped down on September 7.

However, despite his nomination by PTI founder Imran Khan, Raja had not yet been formally appointed to the role, leaving the position vacant for over two months.

Party sources indicated that Raja faced criticism from several senior PTI leaders, particularly regarding his leadership during the party’s recent protests.

Some party members expressed dissatisfaction with his management of the situation, especially during the Lahore protest, where he had been tasked with leading the PTI convoy to Islamabad.

After the roadblocks were set up, Raja shifted the protest plan to Lahore, but was unable to mobilise sufficient party workers, which led to further criticism.

In light of this, PTI leaders had increasingly targeted Raja for his perceived failures in organising the protests. While the party has yet to officially appoint a new Secretary General, the resignation of Raja has left the position vacant for over two months.

In response to Raja’s resignation, PTI’s senior leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan urged Raja to continue in his role, stressing that this was not the time to step down. "People will continue to criticise, but you must keep working," he stated, urging Raja to remain steadfast in the face of criticism.