PTI rift widens as Aleema, Mishaal trade barbs

Internal differences within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have once again surfaced openly, triggered by a sharp exchange between the jailed party founder's sister, Aleema Khan, and PTI Senator Mishaal Yousafzai, exposing deepening tensions within the ranks.

The conflict spilled into the public domain when Aleema Khan, speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, criticised Yousafzai.

"I did not believe that Mishaal Yousafzai was sincere or well-wishing towards the party founder," she stated. She alleged a deliberate conspiracy, claiming Yousafzai and fellow party leader Sher Afzal Marwat "have been given the task of targeting her".

Aleema Khan's allegations grew more serious, as she accused Yousafzai of leaking Imran Khan's confidential medical report. "The founder's medical report was leaked to divert attention from February 8 [protests]," she claimed.

In a pointed and sarcastic retort, Senator Yousafzai dismissed the remarks. She suggested that the video of Aleema Khan's statement circulating on social media could be AI-generated.

"Aleema Khan, as Imran Khan's sister, is respectable to me," Yousafzai said, before adding that Imran Khan had "strictly stopped" Aleema Khan from making media statements, permitting only his other sister, Noreen Niazi, to do so.

Yousafzai cited past incidents where statements or leaked materials attributed to Aleema Khan were later declared fake or AI-generated by the party founder himself, including phone screenshots that emerged after an arrest on October 4.

"In light of all these incidents, I also consider the statement that surfaced today to be fake or AI-generated," she stated, adding that commenting on it was "a waste of time".