ISLAMABAD: Differences between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and party leader Mashal Yousafzai have intensified following a public exchange of allegations and counter-allegations.
The dispute reportedly escalated after Mashal Yousafzai accused Salman Akram Raja of matters related to the alleged sale of party tickets.
Responding to the allegations, Salman Akram Raja strongly criticized Mashal Yousafzai, saying that those who could not afford even “four annas” to fight a legal case had resorted to making what he described as baseless and low-level allegations.
He also questioned Mashal Yousafzai’s appointment to the Senate, saying that he did not know who had facilitated her becoming a senator.
Salman Akram Raja further claimed that the relevant instructions had come from PTI founder Imran Khan. He said he did not have the authority to remove Mashal Yousafzai from the Senate.
According to Raja, he had chosen to show leniency by not taking action to remove her from the party. He maintained that the matter involved decisions and instructions originating from the party’s founder.
Mashal Yousafzai, however, rejected Raja’s position and made further allegations against him. She claimed that Salman Akram Raja had apologized to PTI founder Imran Khan on one occasion but had subsequently resumed making public statements against her.
Mashal challenged Raja to take action against her if he had the authority to expel her from the party.
“If Salman Akram Raja can remove me from the party, let him try,” she said, according to the report.
The dispute has exposed growing tensions within the PTI ranks, with the two party figures publicly challenging each other’s statements and authority.
PTI worker and political activist Shandana Gulzar also commented on the controversy. She alleged that Salman Akram Raja had made an incorrect statement regarding money and raised questions about funds reportedly received from the United States.
Shandana Gulzar asked who had allegedly taken the millions of rupees that had come from the United States. She said that if the facts became known, the consequences could be serious for those involved.
The allegations made by the different party figures have not been independently verified, and the individuals mentioned have offered competing accounts of the dispute.
The controversy comes amid continuing internal debates within PTI regarding party organization, leadership authority and decision-making. Differences among party leaders have periodically emerged over appointments, party tickets, disciplinary matters and the interpretation of instructions attributed to the party founder.
The latest dispute between Salman Akram Raja and Mashal Yousafzai has therefore attracted attention because both are associated with the party’s political structure and their statements could further fuel internal disagreements.
Salman Akram Raja has emphasized that he does not possess the authority to remove Mashal Yousafzai from the Senate and maintained that he acted with restraint. Mashal, meanwhile, has challenged his authority and questioned his conduct after an alleged apology to the PTI founder.
The exchange also reflects broader questions within the party concerning who has the authority to make disciplinary decisions and how instructions attributed to Imran Khan should be implemented.
The accusations surrounding alleged party ticket sales and financial matters have added another dimension to the controversy. However, no independent evidence establishing the allegations has been presented in the statements cited in the report.
As the disagreement continues, further statements from the PTI leadership and the individuals involved could clarify the nature of the dispute and whether the party intends to take any formal disciplinary action.
For now, the public exchange has intensified speculation about internal divisions within PTI and highlighted tensions among some of its prominent figures.
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