Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz bicker over Marwat’s expulsion from PTI committee

ISLAMABAD: Differences among the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continue to deepen as senior leaders Asad Qaiser and Senator Shibli Faraz exchanged heated words over the expulsion of Sher Afzal Marwat from party’s political committee during a meeting, sources told Geo News on Tuesday.

According to the sources, Qaiser, during the PTI’s political committee meeting, said that Marwat’s expulsion from the party’s political committees was an “injustice”.

Faraz questioned Qaiser who is he to speak on party policy issues. To this, the latter said: “You have joined a party for a few years. I have been with the PTI founder since 1995.” “Who are you to talk to me like this? The way the political committee was used against Sher Afzal Marwat is an injustice,” Qaiser said after which the political committee members pressured Faraz to apologise.

The sources further revealed that Faraz apologised for the way he talked and how he acted during the meeting. They added that Qaiser left the meeting over Faraz’s behaviour.

On May 9, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said that Marwat has been expelled from the party’s core and political committees on the directives of party founder Imran Khan. The development came after outspoken Marwat publicly blasted the PTI top leaders, refusing to work under them.

Following this, Marwat was also issued a show-cause notice for violating the party’s code of conduct and policy. The notice said that Marwat has issued “irresponsible statements” that harmed the party’s reputation and interests despite being given clear instructions by Khan.

It further said that the politician has damaged relations with fellow party members and stakeholders through his actions and words.

A day earlier, Khan, while speaking to media persons, said that he has explained to Marwat several times to not violate party policy, however, he used to attack some party leaders every other day.

The PTI founder said that Marwat has done a lot for the party but he should not have repeatedly violated party policy, adding that there won’t be any issues if he follows party policy.