Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) figures at a recent internal meeting largely backed keeping negotiations available, while also pressing for tighter party discipline and a clearer role for elected members, according to people familiar with the discussion.
Leaders argued that the party’s parliamentary group should carry more weight alongside the core and political committees. Several participants also objected to colleagues attacking one another in the media and asked PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to look into those cases.
Debate over talks, the long march and KP leadership
During the exchange, Mashal Yousafzai voiced reservations about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the opposition leadership. She questioned the emphasis on organising a long march while the party’s founder was unwell, and said negotiations should have been given higher priority.
Asad Qaiser replied that the founder had expressed confidence in Sohail Afridi, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas, people familiar with the meeting said. Shafqat Awan challenged Yousafzai’s remarks, urging her not to level accusations at party members or Afridi and arguing that energy should go into confronting the government rather than criticising colleagues.
Most members of the parliamentary party were described as favouring negotiations remaining on the table. Noor-ul-Haq Qadri underlined that view by repeating the word “negotiations” three times, drawing applause from others present.
Discipline row and Naqvi’s resignation
Separately, Firdous Shamim Naqvi announced his resignation as PTI’s additional secretary-general. He said the step was not driven by a personal grievance or disagreement, and that he had not yet issued a show-cause notice to PTI Senator Mishaal Yousafzai.
The resignation came two days after Barrister Gohar Ali Khan directed Naqvi to issue that notice over an alleged breach of party discipline. Gohar had said a senior leader was told to start the process after what he called a violation of party rules. In an earlier statement he also said: “I have always supported the right of everyone to express their differences of opinion on the party platform.”
What the meeting signals
Taken together, the session pointed to two parallel pressures inside PTI: preference among many parliamentary figures for keeping a path to talks open, and friction over how openly leaders may criticise one another—especially while debate continues over street agitation versus negotiation and over confidence in the KP chief minister and allied opposition names.
How the chairman handles the requested inquiry into media criticism, and how the party fills the additional secretary-general role after Naqvi’s exit, will shape the next phase of internal discipline and outreach.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PTI ke meeting mein aksar leaders ne kaha ke baat-cheet ka rasta khula rehna chahiye. Kuch leaders ne apas mein media par tanqeed aur KP ke CM Sohail Afridi par sawalat uthaye. Party ke chairman se discipline check karne ko kaha gaya. Firdous Shamim Naqvi ne additional secretary-general ka ohda chor diya, show-cause notice ke hukm ke do din baad.
