Summary:
- Hammad Azhar has resigned as PTI Punjab president, citing restricted access to Imran Khan and lack of authority as key reasons.
- PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub has rejected Azhar’s resignation, praising his dedication and work for the party.
- Azhar’s resignation highlights internal issues within PTI, including concerns over decision-making and limited communication with the party founder.
On Thursday, Hammad Azhar announced his resignation as the Punjab president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), citing significant challenges including restricted access to PTI founder Imran Khan and limited authority within the party. Despite Azhar’s resignation, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub publicly rejected it, expressing appreciation for Azhar’s unwavering commitment to the party.
Azhar’s decision to step down was driven by his frustration over his inability to effectively perform his duties. In his resignation statement, he mentioned the lack of direct communication with Imran Khan and the restrictions on his movements as major factors. Azhar argued that these issues hindered his ability to manage the party’s affairs and contribute meaningfully to its leadership.
The former PTI minister criticized the internal workings of the party, accusing it of operating on the basis of lobbying rather than merit. He pointed to the removal of Chaudhry Asghar as PTI’s Lahore president as an example of decisions influenced by lobbyists who misled Khan with inaccurate information. Azhar also expressed concerns that the party leadership was not fully informed about the challenges faced by PTI members in different regions.
Azhar’s resignation underscores broader issues within PTI, including the difficulty of running party operations without adequate communication channels with key leaders. He emphasized that such barriers prevent effective governance and allow vested interests to exploit the situation for personal gain. Azhar concluded his statement by reaffirming his loyalty to Imran Khan and his intention to continue supporting him in other capacities, despite stepping down from his official role.
