PTI terminates Ziaullah Afridi's party membership

PTI general secretary says decision was taken on the instructions of party chairman Imran Khan

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday terminated the basic party membership of Khyber Pakhtunkwa's (K-P) Minister for Mines and Minerals Ziaullah Afridi following ongoing investigations in corruption cases against him.

A notification issued on Friday by the party’s general secretary, Jahangir Tareen, read, “On the instructions of the chairman [Imran Khan], the basic membership of Ziaullah Afridi, member provincial assembly from PK-1 Peshawar and minister for mines and minerals, government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is hereby suspended with immediate effect,” the notification read.

On July 10, Ehtesab Commission sent Afridi on a 13-day physical remand to probe allegations of abuse of authority, posting and transfer of officials sans protocols and causing losses worth billions of rupees to the exchequer.

Read: PTI minister Ziaullah Afridi remanded into Ehtesab’s custody

Three days later, family of the minister challenged his arrest in Peshawar High Court, calling the move illegal. His brother Hidayatullah Afridi had filed the petition requesting the court to direct the commission to produce the detained minister.

On Thursday, the former minister was also reportedly removed from the provincial cabinet.

Read: PTI leaders eye Ziaullah Afridi's vacant ministry seat as Jahangir Tareen visits K-P

Earlier, speaking to the media, Afridi said he had plenty to say about his arrest, “It’s not the Ehtesab Commission but the Pervez Commission. I was falsely accused and I will defend myself,” said the minister and claimed, “I was also punished for opposing Khattak for bringing Qaumi Watan Party back into the government.”