'Infiltrator': Imran Khan reacts to Marwat's attack against Salman Akram Raja

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat received criticism from the party's senior leadership and a response from party founder Imran Khan, hours after Marwat called out lawyer Salman Akram Raja.

Aleema Khan, speaking outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Friday, quoted her brother as saying, “There is an infiltration within the party that is currently active.” She added, “Imran Khan had appointed Salman Akram Raja as the party secretary general.”

Defending party secretary general Salman Akram Raja, Aleema stated that the lawyer was merely relaying Imran Khan's message.

The row erupted when Raja, while speaking to a private news channel on Thursday, downplayed Marwat’s claims, which he often linked to party founder Imran Khan, saying, “Only two or four party members are deemed capable of having the right to speak about the party.

“Marwat statement has nothing to do with the party's official narrative. His [Marwat] statements are unimportant,” Raja said.

Following statements from Raja, who questioned Marwat’s understanding of the party’s policy matters, Marwat assailed him.

On the same day, while declaring Raja’s appointment as party secretary general to be inconsistent with the party constitution, PTI's firebrand appeared at a private media outlet and stated that party Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and Firdous Shamim Naqvi are public officeholders. “Salman Akram Raja is a stranger [to the party],” he asserted.

Since the interview, key PTI leaders, including Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, former PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan, and Secretary of Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, reacted to Marwat's statements.

Raoof Hassan

Reacting to the heated exchange between Marwat and Raja, former PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan, while speaking to a private news channel on Friday, sternly said, “I’ve stopped talking about him [Sher Afzal Marwat] because no one has been spared their wrath, including me.”

Responding to Marwat’s stance that Salman Akram Raja was not appointed party secretary general according to the party constitution, Hassan remarked that Raja is currently the de facto secretary general.

“If nominated, a person can be a de facto party secretary general. Imran Khan nominated Raja,” Hassan clarified, setting the record straight about whether any unelected individual can become a de facto party secretary general according to the party constitution.

Sheikh Waqas Akram

PTI Secretary of Information Sheikh Waqas Akram also defended Salman Akram Raja’s position within the party.

He took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, “[...] For Khan’s followers, it’s not about the legality of the party position, it’s about what Khan said, and Khan’s Secretary general for PTI. is Salman Akram Raja, duly nominated by Khan. He also represents party in the dialogue committee and whole party endorses his stance regarding dialogue.”

“Salman Akram Raja has played a very important role in managing our leader Imran Khan’s cases. Khan Sahib has faith in him and trusts him. Despite Raja Sahib’s hesitation, Khan Sahib insisted and nominated him as the secretary general of the party,” he wrote.

Ali Amin Gandapur

While many party leaders have criticised Sher Afzal Marwat, CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur slightly defended him, saying, “Indeed, Marwat has made a lot of sacrifices for the party.”

Gandapur opined that Marwat's minor mistakes should be forgiven, as he had worked hard for the party in subsequent years. He shared this in an exclusive interview with a private media outlet.

“Marwat informed me by telephone that he had received a show-cause notice. I advised him to respond to the notice as per party policy and to present his point of view to Khan Sahib for clarity,” CM KP added.