ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Friday announced the reconstitution of a 23-member political committee, which will act as the party’s core decision-making forum. The revamped body includes several figures from the opposition alliance and will oversee political strategy, organisational affairs and policy directions.
The move comes a week after incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan dissolved the earlier political committee, reportedly due to internal disagreements. This was his first major directive after weeks without communication.
A notification issued by the PTI Central Secretariat — signed by Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi — formally announced the committee’s formation. According to the notification, the restructuring was carried out on the instructions of Imran Khan and in consultation with senior party leaders.
The newly formed committee will function as the apex political body, guiding all organisational decisions, party wings and committees. It will meet at least once a week, and its decisions will be implemented through the Central Secretariat and regional structures. It will also set policy directions for PTI’s parliamentary wings in the National Assembly, Senate, provincial assemblies, and the legislatures of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir.
The notification added that sub-committees would be created, comprising individuals with relevant expertise, including members of various party wings.
The 23-member committee includes Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, proposed Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Punjab Opposition Leader Moeen-ud-Din Riaz Qureshi, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Sajjad Burki, Aliya Hamza, Junaid Akbar, Haleem Adil, Dawood Kakar, Khalid Khursheed, Sardar Qayyum Niazi, Asad Qaiser, Amir Dogar, Fawzia Arshad, Kanwal Shauzab and Dr Lal Chand Malhi.
Party insiders said the previous political committee had nearly 40 members, leading to frequent leaks and lack of confidentiality. Asad Qaiser confirmed that discussions to dissolve it had been underway for some time. Another internal memo, seeking to centralise authority in the secretary general’s office, had also caused discontent among members who viewed it as suppressing internal debate.
A PTI leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the inclusion of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Khan Achakzai was essential for coordination with the opposition alliance.
