Confusion persists within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the party membership of MNA Sher Afzal Marwat, as Chairman Gohar Ali Khan voiced ignorance over an official notification that cancelled his basic party membership on Friday night.
The PTI’s official X account, late on Friday night, shared a notification signed by Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi in which it said the basic membership of Marwat was cancelled for “gross violation/breach” of discipline. “Sher Afzal Marwat was on notice and was asked to restrict himself, and statements, to within the limitation as outlined in the letter,” it said, adding a committee was tasked to monitor his statements, media appearances, tweets.
“The committee has come to the conclusion Sher Afzal Marwat has no regards for the rules and discipline of the party and he considers himself above the party regulations, consequentially badly affected the image of the party and party narrative,” it stated.
The notification said the committee had recommended termination of Marwat’s party membership over his actions, adding party founder Imran Khan backed this decision. “The committee also has stated that if Sher Afzal Marwat is an honorable person he should resign from the National Assembly seat which he won as a nominated PTI candidate and seek re-election,” it added.
However, despite several PTI leaders—including lawyer Naeem Panjutha—confirming the notification as factual, party Chairman Gohar Ali Khan expressed ignorance and claimed it was “fake.” Speaking with media, Gohar claimed he was never consulted on the decision and had not approved it, adding this could not happen without his approval. “It’s not possible,” he told Geo News.
The firebrand Marwat rose to prominence ahead of the Feb. 8 general elections, with PTI supporters flocking to him for his outspoken, blunt statements that often also targeted members of his own party. In May, the PTI issued him a show-cause notice for violation of its code of conduct and policy and directed him to cease issuing statements that breached party discipline. The same month, Marwat was expelled from the PTI’s core and political committees on the directives of Imran Khan. At the time, Marwat had said that he would leave the party and resign from the National Assembly if he were asked to do so directly by Khan.
Reacting to the notification on X, Marwat said he would respect the party’s decision, but stressed Khan had been “poisoned” against him and he would continue to work for the release of the PTI founder. He also apologized to any PTI leader or worker who was “hurt” by his action, adding he hoped the party would avoid any vitriol against him to maintain principles of mutual respect.