PTI facing a two-pronged challenge

Internal rifts and differences with TTAP strain party line

The rift between the PTI and the TTAP deepens after the latter declines a formal invitation to participate in an April 19 rally, laying bare internal divisions within the PTI, with rival factions trading accusations of unilateral action and government appeasement.

Party sources and a TTAP office-bearer say Mehmood Khan Achakzai has refused to attend the April 19 rally, citing two concerns: that a rally in K-P would be futile, and that the TTAP was not consulted prior to the announcement.

According to sources, on Tuesday, PTI K-P leader Atif Khan approached TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain initially and later contacted TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, seeking an announcement of their participation in the April 19 rally in Mardan.

Senior PTI leader and a key office-bearer on Wednesday evening confirmed to The Express Tribune that Achakzai had refused to attend the rally, adding that the TTAP chief's decision to skip the PTI event was justified, noting that was the third time the opposition alliance had been sidelined in major decisions.

From the formation of Imran Khan "Release Force" to the announcement of the April 9 rally and then the April 19 rally, the PTI K-P leadership made each decision without consulting the TTAP leadership which the PTI was bound to do, in accordance with the party founder orders.

He said the party stood with the TTAP, describing its objection as valid, and added that younger leaders in K-P had a tendency to act unilaterally. He said Salman Akram Raja's outburst over a question on Aleema Khan's remarks underscored deepening divisions within the PTI.

He said this lot in K-P has limited political understanding but regard themselves as Aristotle-like figures in politics.

He said Shahid Khattak's media-reported remarks against the TTAP leadership, in which he allegedly claimed PTI would strip Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir of their positions and powers, reflected a shallow understanding of alliance politics. "Now pigmies like Shahid Khattak will decide how the PTI will function," he quipped.

Another PTI office-bearer said objections to the central leadership were justified, alleging it was steering the party in line with state expectations without obtaining relief for Imran Khan, who is reportedly close to losing vision in one eye. He added that the main criticism was directed at Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja. "They have no policy or direction and have failed to create leverage for negotiations. In contrast, K-P CM Sohail Afridi and his team are trying to pressure the government into talks."

Another leader said the K-P chief minister and his team are aligned with Aleema Khan, and that she is kept in the loop on major decisions. He added that this group sees the central leadership as soft and unwilling to take a hard line with the state.

When contacted, PTI central spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said there were differences of opinion within the party on some matters. On the TTAP, he said he had been informed that the group had reservations about the upcoming rally, adding that PTI would soon call a meeting to address the issues.

TTAP spokesperson Hussain confirmed that the alliance was not consulted ahead of the Mardan rally. However, he said he was unaware of the outcome of talks between Atif Khan and Achakzai.