K-P CM Gandapur in the PTI leaders' crosshairs now

As infighting appears to have intensified within party's top ranks, senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Asad Qaiser and Shahram Khan Tarakai on Friday urged the party's central leadership to investigate a statement by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and clarify PTI founder Imran Khan's stance to the nation.

In a statement that quickly gained traction on social media, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser called on the K-P CM to prioritise governance, restore law and order, and work towards securing the release of Imran Khan and other imprisoned party workers.

Qaiser's remarks came just hours after Gandapur claimed that he was in talks with the establishment in a personal capacity.

"We reserve the right to respond to the K-P CM's statement but prefer to avoid such matters in the interest of the country and PTI founder Imran Khan," Qaiser said on social media.

"We must not jeopardise our struggle for Imran Khan's release by engaging in unnecessary discussions on internal party affairs."

Meanwhile, PTI MNA Shahram Khan Tarakai echoed similar concerns, urging the party's central leadership to investigate Gandapur's remarks and present Imran Khan's stance clearly before the public.

He stressed that PTI leaders should remain focused on securing Khan's release and advocating for other detained party members.

It is pertinent to note that on Wednesday, as cracks widened within PTI's top ranks, Gandapur met jailed party founder Imran Khan along with an aide.

Later, media reports suggested that Imran had reportedly advised Gandapur to re-engage with the establishment, but strictly within the bounds of the Constitution and the law.

However, on Thursday, K-P government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif shot down these reports, dismissing claims that Imran had entrusted him and Gandapur with the task of negotiating with the establishment.

The clarification came amid a flurry of speculation on both mainstream and social media, where reports suggested that during a recent meeting at Adiala Jail, Imran had assigned the K-P CM and Barrister Saif to spearhead talks with the establishment.

Following the April 2 meeting, rumours swirled that the K-P CM and his aide had persuaded the PTI founder to return to the negotiating table, after which Imran allegedly gave them the green light to proceed.