Expelled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has levelled serious allegations against Aleema Khanum, sister of jailed former premier Imran Khan, alleging that she has an authoritarian approach within the party.

 

“If there is a traitor in PTI, then no one is a bigger traitor than Aleema Khanum,” he said sternly while appearing on a private media outlet’s political talk show on Tuesday. 

 

Speaking to media outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi earlier on the same day, Aleema Khanum stated that ever since her brother expelled Marwat from the party, the latter had been attacking Imran Khan’s family. 

 

Firebrand Marwat claimed that Aleema Khanum’s son Sher Shah was seen in a video handing over a military uniform pant to Hassaan Khan Niazi, son of Imran Khan's other sister Noreen Khanum, who then waved it in the air, hurling derogatory remarks.

 

Hassaan was convicted by military courts for his roles in violent attacks on military installations during the nationwide riots on May 9, 2023, and was awarded 10 ten-year imprisonment.

 

Marwat said that Sher Shah was nominated in a case related to the attack on the Core Commander's house in Lahore. Marwat alleged that after settling matters with an “army officer,” Aleema Khan’s son "fled to London.”

 

Additionally, Marwat revealed that on April 4, 2024, Imran Khan's sister invited him to her home for a meal, where he was asked about defending Imran Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi. “Are you a spokesperson of Bushra Bibi,” he quoted Aleema Khanum as having said. 

 

Marwat stated that when he told Aleema that he had defended her too, she smirked. “I don’t need you to defend me. Just decide whether you are with me or Bushra Bibi," she allegedly said. 

 

Marwat said that he replied, “I am not with anyone but with Imran Khan,” adding that he left her house without eating, and Zain Qureshi, former PTI leader, and others were witnesses to the exchange.

 

“On April 11, Imran Khan removed me from the [PTI] focal person and spokesperson. And until today, I am being sidelined from the party,” he said.

 

Marwat also confirmed the News aired by ARY News last week about an alleged internal rift within the party regarding the distribution of Senate election tickets in KP.

 

The controversy stemmed from reported differences between KP CM Gandapur, Aleema Khanum, and KP Adviser on Information Barrister Saif over the distribution of Senate tickets.

 

ARY reported that Gandapur and Aleema Khan wanted to exclude two names from the list, including Mashal Yousafzai, the former special assistant to the KP CM, but Saif stood by Khan’s original picks.