The PTI has been through the wringer in recent years, but its latest predicament stands out - the party leadership is turning a deaf ear to founding chairman Imran Khan's repeated calls to contribute to party funds, even as it faces a severe financial crunch.
Party insiders say the money woes are piling up, with a perfect storm of challenges ranging from the freezing of party accounts by institutions to leaders keeping their purse strings tight despite Khan's instructions from behind bars.
While some PTI leaders publicly dismiss claims of a financial crunch, insiders reveal that the party is running on fumes. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that staff salaries have been slashed by half, and the party is now operating with a skeleton crew.
To add insult to injury, the decision to sack staff and cut the salaries of the remaining staff has come when the PTI lawmakers have just got a raise in their salaries from the parliament.
Previously, the lawmakers used to get a monthly salary of Rs180,000, which has now been increased for each MNA and senator to Rs519,000. It all had started in January when a PTI circular, issued with the approval of Khan, directed the parliamentarians and ticket holders to make an annual contribution of Rs240,000 with two six monthly instalments into party funds.
"The party is passing through one of its most difficult times in the history of the party," read the circular, adding that the party has decided that it needs to call on all those holding important positions in the party to raise the necessary funds for running the party.
The Khan-approved circular had hoped to receive the necessary funds from party leaders during January 2025, and, thereafter every six months. However, the party insiders said, Khan's instructions have not been taken seriously so far and, as a result, the party was forced to cut expenditures by slashing salaries and staffers.
"I don't know the exact position," one senior PTI leader said, "but I believe sufficient funds are available for salaries and expenses in party funds. In response to several questions, the party stalwart revealed that no money was spent from the party's funds for party leaders' recent visit to Sindh, saying everyone either bore all his expenses or contributed to the visit.
In addition, PTI leader said that the opposition parties' recent huddle was sponsored by Awam Pakistan convener Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PKMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, saying PTI also contributed but the majority of expenses were borne by Abbasi and Achakzai.
"There is no question of not contributing to party funds, especially, after Khan Sahib's directions," he emphasized. "Rs240,000 isn't much. I don't have exact figures but many have contributed." Nevertheless, he offered no explanation for reducing party staff and slashing salaries to half.
PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party decided to collect funds from its members after the FIA and the ECP froze its accounts, halting financial inflows.
"It is the responsibility of the MNAs, MPAs and ticket holders to take care of the people working for the party," the PTI spokesperson said. Akram clarified that he being the information secretary doesn't interfere in the finance department of the party but added that party leaders have contributed on and off through banks.
He, however, didn't have exact details on the grounds that "it's not my department." He didn't specifically comment on the sacking of PTI staffers and the slashing of their salaries.
Several other party leaders, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, were also requested to share their comments but they didn't.
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