Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) maverick leader Sher Afzal Marwat and the party’s social media team are facing off on the issue of criticism of former cricketer Shahid Afridi.

Ali Muhammad Khan is also upset with the behavior of the PTI social media team.

Sher Afzal Marwat wrote on X, “Why Shahid Afridi? Now a campaign is going on against Shahid Afridi due to an alleged statement on May 9. I saw few statements attributed to me against Shahid Afridi. So we should reject fake news. I have not come across any such statement from Shahid Afridi and it seems that some elements are spreading false news against him. Shahid Afridi is a living legend, a Pashtun (Afridi) who became the hero of Pakistan.”

“I am inspired by the Afridis with their many qualities and Shehryar and Shahid Afridi have always been my heroes. I know that Shahid Afridi holds Imran Khan in a high regard and the propaganda against Shahid Afridi seems to be in the hands of those who want to settle a personal score with him.”

Talking about PTI’s social media team he said, “PTI social media teams are requested to spread good things about Shahid Afridi. We also need to react swiftly to false propaganda from PTI’s platform in future. Such unwitting participation in a malicious campaign against individuals should always be stopped as soon as possible. I personally confirm that the campaign against Shahid Afridi is false and futile and I deeply regret it.”

On the other hand, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan has said, “The founder of PTI and Shahid Afridi are both national heroes. If Shahid Afridi’s words are not appropriate, it can be his personal opinion.”

PTI’s social media activist Azhar Mashwani responded to Marwat’s statement about Shahid Afridi and said, “Marwat Sahib! This sentence of yours is reprehensible and should be deleted immediately, do not respond or comment on internal party talks on social media. You should avoid such action.”