Lahore:
PTI confronted significant organizational changes on Tuesday when Secretary General Salman Akram Raja announced his resignation and former Punjab leader Hammad Azhar withdrew from contesting a crucial Lahore election.
Raja’s departure from the Secretary -General’s attitude stems from what he characterized as irreconcilable differences with regard to his responsibilities within the party structure.
The senior lawyer revealed that he had requested PTI founder Imran Khan to free him from the duties through attorney Ali Bukhari the previous week. Imran Khan initially rejected the request.
“My life is an open book and I cannot compromise on intellectual and financial integrity,” Raja said in a social media post, indicating that the recent circumstances had forced his decision.
Despite pulling down from the administrative role, he promised to continue to give Pro Bono legal representation of the party. Departure reveals growing tensions in PTI’s leadership hierarchy, especially in terms of strategic direction and individual roles.
Raja, who neither describes as neither a conventional politician nor the landowner, emphasized his family’s unwavering support to PTI despite the mounting of political and economic pressure.
Meanwhile, Azhar’s withdrawal from the NA-129 election circuit adds another layer to PTI’s election challenges. The seat was vacant after the death of his father, veteran politician Mian Azhar, which created expectations that the younger Azhar would try to continue the family’s political heritage in the constituency.
Instead, Azhar appointed his cousin, Chaudhry Arsalan Zaheer, as the family’s favorite candidate. Zaheer was former chairman of Laorrest’s Fruits and Vegetable Market Committee during PTI’s tenure of the government and has collaborated with the Azhar family in previous election campaigns.
The decision reflects practical considerations about legal vulnerabilities facing PTI.
Azhar noticed that Zaheer is not facing any pending litigation, including those related to the 9th of May -uro, which resulted in the legal problems of several party members. This pure legal status reduces potential disqualification risks that can compromise on the seat, he said.
“Personal limitations make it impossible for me to actively participate in campaign or earn effectively in the assembly,” he said, announcing that his sister would oversee campaign operations.
Party sources confirmed that PTI management had given the Azhar -beauty powers in graduate selection, although his own legal challenges significantly affected the final choice. The development illustrates how ongoing litigation continues to influence PTI’s political calculations and the viability of the candidate.
These management changes occur on the basis of PTI’s complex relationship with turnout. The party has maintained an inconsistent approach to election, with the prison founder Imran, who previously advocated boycotts to demonstrate solidarity with disqualified members.
The double messages highlight PTI’s wider organizational struggles as it navigates management transitions while confronting sustained legal pressure on key figures.
The party must now address both immediate electoral challenges and longer term questions about management account in the midst of the ongoing political turbulence.
