Internal differences within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have intensified as harsh words were used between Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur on a social media platform, it was reported on Monday.
According to sources, the disagreement between the two senior leaders took place through WhatsApp messages, during which strong remarks were allegedly exchanged.
Sources said KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi used harsh language regarding his predecessor, triggering a reaction and further deepening tensions within the party.
Party leaders are also reported to have expressed displeasure over the use of such language, but no senior figure has so far been willing to step forward to mediate between the two camps, amid concerns that supporting one side could be viewed as favouring a particular faction.
In response to the growing divisions and lawmakers’ disagreements with CM Afridi, PTI has formed a six-member reconciliation committee under the leadership of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser.
The committee includes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, provincial general secretary Ali Asghar Khan, provincial ministers Meena Khan and Akbar Ayub, and PTI Peshawar Region president Atif Khan.
According to a notification issued under the signature of the party’s provincial secretary general, the committee will serve as a bridge between lawmakers, the parliamentary party and the provincial government.
It will also function as a consultative forum for Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the provincial party president and the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen movement.
Meanwhile, a meeting of PTI’s parliamentary party in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly highlighted the extent of internal dissatisfaction. More than 30 lawmakers reportedly did not attend the session, despite the parliamentary party consisting of 92 members.
Sources said many of the absent members cited overseas travel or other commitments as reasons for not attending. However, the development has fuelled speculation about divisions within the party.
Following the meeting, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reportedly began efforts to reach out to dissatisfied lawmakers and intensified contacts with members of the provincial assembly. Sources said he also prepared a report on the parliamentary party meeting, which showed that only 57 of the 92 assembly members attended.
Reports further suggested that several PTI lawmakers remain unhappy with the chief minister’s leadership. Sources indicated that a separate meeting of dissatisfied members may be convened in the near future as the party seeks to manage growing internal challenges ahead of key political developments in the province.
The members of the assembly participating in the session included Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Speaker KP Assembly Babar Saleem Swati, Dr Amjad Ali, Taj Muhammad, Akbar Ayub, Amir Farzand, Zarshad Khan, Abdul Karim, Shafiullah, Ajmal, Usman Battani, Adnan Qadri, Dr Hameer, Shakeel Aham, Iftikhar Mashwani, Fazal Shakoor, Arshad Umarzai, Ikram Ghazi, Faisal Tarkai, Iftikhar Ullah, Mian Omar, Khalid Khan, Malik Adeel, Arif Ahmedzai, Rangiz Ahmed, Zar Alam, Asif Khan, Abdul Ghani, Liaquat Ali, Arshad Ayub, Riaz Khan, Humayun, Fateh al Mulk Nasir, Abdul Kabir, Shafi Jan, Obaid Ullah, Murtaza Khan, Zubair, Rajab Ali Abbasi, Zahir Shah Toro, Mina Khan Afridi, Aqib Ullah, Aftab Alam, Khurshid Khattak, Shah Turab, Tariq Saeed, Mian Sharafat, Dawood Afridi, Khaliq-ur-Rehman, Dr Israr, Pir Musawar, Tufail Anjum, Yameen Khan, Mehboob Sher, Anwar Khan, Gul Ibrahim, and Ashfaq.
