{"id":29365,"date":"2023-11-28T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T18:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/confusion-within-pti-as-party-denies-senior-leaders-claim-that-imran-wont-run-for-party-chairmanship\/"},"modified":"2023-11-28T18:32:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T18:32:00","slug":"confusion-within-pti-as-party-denies-senior-leaders-claim-that-imran-wont-run-for-party-chairmanship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/confusion-within-pti-as-party-denies-senior-leaders-claim-that-imran-wont-run-for-party-chairmanship\/","title":{"rendered":"Confusion within PTI as party denies senior leader\u2019s claim that Imran won\u2019t run for party chairmanship"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The PTI on Tuesday denied its own Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Khan Marwat\u2019s claim that party chief Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala jail, would not contest the upcoming intra-party polls for the slot of party chairman \u2014 a position he has long held.<\/p>\n

The party did not directly name Marwat but it was clear that the clarification through its official social media account was addressing remarks made earlier in the day by Marwat, who had stated that Imran decided to sit out party polls due to legal prohibitions and his disqualification<\/a> in the Toshakhana case.<\/p>\n

Marwat had made the remarks while speaking to PTI\u2019s social media representatives outside Adiala jail.<\/p>\n

\u201cKhan sahib<\/em> himself has decided that he will not contest the polls for the office of PTI chairman,\u201d he had said, adding that this decision was taken with consensus. Marwat said the decision would be reversed as soon as the disqualification was set aside.<\/p>\n

However, hours later, the PTI issued a statement on social media platform X stating that it \u201cstrongly denies\u201d speculation in the media on the issue. It also denied the claims by a \u201csenior party leader\u201d about Imran not running for party chairman in intra-party elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscussions are ongoing on all the important issues regarding the holding of intra-party elections,\u201d the party said. It said that no decision was taken as yet regarding withdrawing Imran from the election or nominating another leader in his place.<\/p>\n

The party said that as soon as the leadership reached a conclusion on holding intra-party elections, the date and the selection of candidates, the details would be released to the media.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Marwat stuck by his statement despite the party\u2019s denial. In response to the statement issued by the PTI, Marwat said that he had \u201cexamined the paradox\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever I have said in my media talk about the intra-party election is correct. The decisions were taken by the PTI chairman in the presence of Senator Ali Zafar, Barrister Gohar Umair Niazi and myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI fail to understand who is behind the contradiction and why the misleading statement was issued. The media are advised to verify my statement with the above persons if you don\u2019t mind,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Separately, PTI Senator Ali Zafar said while talking on Geo News<\/em> show \u2018Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath<\/em>\u2019 that there was no confusion in the party, adding that he met Imran today.<\/p>\n

Zafar said Imran had tasked him to hold consultations and then meet the PTI chief to give his opinion on the situation so the former premier could make his decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo to three decisions were made together with him. Firstly, he asked what is the legal status of the ECP\u2019s order to hold intra-party elections so I told him that it is illegal and we should appeal so the decision was made to appeal it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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