PTI parliamentary party meeting turns heated as lawmakers stage walkout

ISLAMABAD: Internal differences surfaced during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, with several lawmakers walking out of the committee room following heated discussions, sources said.

The meeting continued for around seven hours at Parliament House, with participants discussing differences within the party, the possibility of negotiations with the government and preparations for a long march.

According to sources, Faisal Amin Khan, brother of Ali Amin Gandapur, left the meeting in anger and forcefully shut the committee room door.

PTI MNA Khawaja Sheraz also walked out, telling colleagues who called after him that he would return after taking a phone call. Ali Muhammad Khan gave a similar explanation for his departure, while Shehryar Afridi said he was leaving to offer prayers.

During the meeting, participants reportedly expressed confidence in Sohail Afridi, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas.

They also called for closer coordination between the parliamentary party, the core committee and the political committee. Members criticised colleagues for making statements against their own party in the media and asked Barrister Gohar to look into the matter.

Sources said Mashal Yousafzai voiced reservations about Sohail Afridi and the opposition leadership, questioning the emphasis on organising a long march while the party founder was unwell.

She argued that negotiations should have received greater attention. Asad Qaiser responded that the party founder had already expressed confidence in Sohail Afridi, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas.

Shafqat Awan also urged Mashal Yousafzai to avoid targeting party colleagues, including Sohail Afridi, and called on members to direct their efforts towards challenging the government rather than criticising one another.

Meanwhile, most participants reportedly favoured keeping negotiations with the government on the table. Noor-ul-Haq Qadri repeatedly stressed the importance of talks, saying “negotiations” three times, drawing applause from those present.