LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has reversed a decision that had highlighted internal rifts, with secretary-general Salman Akram Raja announcing reinstatement of the party’s central Punjab leadership via his X handle.

“The PTI Punjab review committee meeting has unanimously decided to restore Ahmad Chattha as Central Punjab president,” stated Mr Raja in his post on X and added that he explained the committee members about the events since Mr Chattha’s removal.

It is learnt that the review committee had urged the secretary-general to implement the change of central Punjab leaders as per instructions of party founder Imran Khan.

Mr Raja, in his tweet, also took exception to “a leaked screenshot” and has reportedly said the screenshot was from a mere discussion held in July, where he proposed changes in central Punjab, albeit on an acting basis.

The secretary-general, in his next meeting with the incarcerated leader, might inform him about rifts within the party and managing of party affairs in Punjab by chief organizer Aliya Hamza and her team. Mr Raja is expected to meet Mr Khan in Adiala jail on Tuesday.

Aliya Hamza said the party founder’s focal person was now a final authority and Mr Raja’s tweet is enough to restore previous central Punjab leaders Ahmad Chattha and Bilal Ejaz.

“My notification appointing Ali Imtiaz Warraich and Tariq Mahmood as president and general secretary, respectively, stands null and void,” she said. It may be mentioned that Mr Chattha also lost his NA-66 seat to the PML-N candidate who returned unopposed, as he had withdrawn himself from the election on the instructions of Mr Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2025