Imran Khan: ‘Lack of effort’ to free Imran Khan? Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MP rebels against party leadership World News

Deep divisions have emerged within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with a group of lawmakers expressing displeasure over the party leadership’s “lack of effort” in securing the release of its jailed founder and former prime minister. Imran Khan.Disgruntled members of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), many of whom were reportedly stripped of their posts in the recent cabinet expansion, held an emergency meeting in Peshawar before writing to PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan, the Press Trust news agency cited Dawn.The meeting discussed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s continued imprisonment, concerns about party workers, governance issues and the effectiveness of the ongoing campaign for his release.In their letter, the lawmakers said dealing with Khan’s release and health is causing “anxiety among workers, supporters and patriotic citizens.” They believe the campaign to free him has lost momentum and become ineffective.“Workers feel that the release movement has strayed from its core direction and is limited to health and treatment issues alone. The ongoing movement to free the leaders seems to be mainly limited to formal statements, restricted protests and symbolic measures. New strategies should be developed to make the movement effective, organized and result-oriented,” the letter reads.MPs warned that if the issues were not addressed there could be serious political consequences for the party.They also expressed concerns over the governance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming “interference by unrelated individuals in provincial government affairs, departure from merit, unfair distribution of resources, and lack of proper consultation with relevant marine protected areas in determining powers and development resources for their constituencies”.The letter calls for greater transparency, fairness and consultation in government affairs, while demanding a “proactive, comprehensive, effective and results-oriented strategy” for Khan’s release.A lawmaker told Dawn that around 20 lawmakers were still unhappy after being stripped of their cabinet posts. Reports also claimed that the group boycotted a parliamentary meeting convened by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and instead traveled to Rawalpindi to stage a demonstration outside Adiala jail. Copies of the letter were also sent to the party’s central secretary-general and central press secretary.