Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) recent Core Committee meeting reportedly witnessed heated exchanges among party leaders over the alleged failure of the long march, inadequate preparations, the collapse of negotiations with the government and the party’s future political strategy.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, several participants questioned Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s handling of the long march, while others cautioned against placing the entire blame on one individual. The meeting also saw calls for Barrister Saif to be brought back into an active role within the party.
During the meeting, a party leader reportedly held Sohail Afridi responsible for the failure of the long march, alleging that he had kept the party leadership uninformed about the protest plan.
Salman Akram Raja highlighted the lack of preparation, saying that his visit to Swabi had made him realise that adequate arrangements for workers, including tents and accommodation, had not been made.
Raja also said that when a large number of people failed to turn up in Mardan, he asked Shafi Jan about the situation. According to him, Shafi Jan responded that only 20 out of the party’s 90 MPAs were in contact with them.
Ali Asghar reportedly said he had been assured that a plan was in place and that everything would be fine. However, he added that this was not the first such experience, recalling that former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur had also not shared details when questioned about protest plans.
Questions were also raised about why the chief minister had travelled from Mardan to the Chief Minister’s House. A PTI leader reportedly explained that the chief minister had not stayed in Mardan because the number of participants was lower than expected.
Taimur Jhagra acknowledged that there had been shortcomings in the party’s planning but argued that Sohail Afridi could not be held solely responsible. Addressing Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Jhagra reportedly said that the party’s leaders needed to accept responsibility for the outcome.
He emphasised that while the situation had not gone well, criticism within the party should not be driven by personal hostility.
Hafiz Farhat also urged party members to avoid targeting individuals who were not present to defend themselves. He questioned the wisdom of attacking one’s own party out of personal animosity. Barrister Saif’s role emerged as another key topic during the meeting.
Sources said a Core Committee member proposed that Saif be reactivated politically. PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai reportedly argued that the party needed to contact him immediately, describing him as the person best positioned to help resolve the crisis.
Yousafzai also claimed that Barrister Saif was the only person capable of arranging a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan and could brief him on the party’s internal situation.
She further alleged that corruption had increased under Sohaib Afridi’s leadership and claimed that the party was losing public support because of its performance over the past year. Her remarks reportedly prompted Hafiz Farhat to caution against personal attacks and criticism directed at party colleagues.
The reported failure of negotiations with the government was another major point of contention. According to sources, most participants blamed Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the breakdown of the talks.
PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh claimed that all matters with the government had been settled before Achakzai contacted Sohaib Afridi and complicated the situation.
Sheikh alleged that Achakzai had told Afridi he would not stand with the party if the chief minister signed the draft agreement. He further claimed that the telephone conversation influenced Afridi against accepting the proposed draft.
These allegations reflect the account presented by Sheikh and have not been independently verified.
The meeting reportedly exposed differences within the party over responsibility for the protest’s outcome, the handling of negotiations and the direction of its political leadership.
The discussions also highlighted calls for greater coordination, improved planning and accountability among senior party figures.
According to the information shared by party sources, the Core Committee has scheduled another meeting for tonight to discuss the party’s future strategy and determine its next course of action.