In a pivotal turn of events, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political committee convened in Islamabad on Friday night under its chairman’s leadership. The agenda: the replacement of Mr. Sher Afzal Marwat with the Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Jhang.
According to a party insider who spoke to Dawn, the 19-member committee, spearheaded by Omar Ayub, engaged in a critical vote. Out of the 19 members, nine voted in favor of Shaikh Waqas, while seven backed Mr. Marwat. Notably, Aon Abbas chose to abstain from voting. Former speaker Asad Qaiser and Mr. Marwat were notably absent from the gathering.
Reacting to the decision, Mr. Marwat expressed bitterness and frustration, accusing the PTI establishment of conspiring against him. He specifically pointed fingers at Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, alleging their involvement in ongoing plots against him. Marwat’s sentiment of victimization was evident as he attributed the decision to his popularity within the party.
Dawn reached out to Omar Ayub for comment, but as of now, no response has been received. Meanwhile, PTI’s principal spokesperson Raoof Hasan declined to provide further insight into the matter, emphasizing that decisions are deferred to the party’s incarcerated leader, Imran Khan.
Mr. Marwat’s ascent to prominence during Imran Khan’s legal battles has been marked by controversy and outspokenness. His recent nomination as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was abruptly overturned by the political committee, sparking questions about the motives behind the decision.
Despite being a member of the political committee, Marwat claimed he was not informed of the decision, further fueling his suspicions of a concerted effort against him by the PTI establishment.
He vowed to address the issue directly with Imran Khan, expressing his disillusionment with the internal conflicts within the party. Marwat’s resolve to confront the leadership reflects growing tensions within PTI, as factions vie for control and influence.
As the saga unfolds, all eyes are on Imran Khan’s response to Marwat’s grievances and the implications for PTI’s internal dynamics.
