PTI MPs challenge Aleema Khan's decision-making authority in party matters

Internal differences have surfaced within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over allegations that key decisions in the party are increasingly being influenced by Aleema Khan, the sister of former prime minister Imran Khan, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.

According to sources, several PTI members of the National Assembly expressed concerns that party office bearers had become redundant and that major decisions were being taken under the direction of Aleema Khan.

The concerns were conveyed during a meeting with the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA), Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

According to sources, when the members expressed their reservations to Mahmood Khan Achakzai, he instead brushed them off.

Achakzai responded by suggesting that the growing influence of the former premier’s sisters reflected the weakness of political figures within the party. According to him, political leaders had left a vacuum that was subsequently filled by family members.

During the discussion, some of the party's elected leaders claimed that Aleema Khan's decision-making authority had created divisions within the party.

According to the sources, certain PTI lawmakers told Achakzai that they were elected representatives and not employees of the charitable hospital Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, implying that political decisions should be taken through party structures rather than outside influence.

During the exchange, the members of the National Assembly reportedly told Achakzai that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was the chairman of the PTI and that they would follow his instructions.

The lawmakers also conveyed that they would not accept directions from members of the family unless explicit instructions were issued by the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan.

Sources added that the lawmakers had decided they would not act on directives from family members [Aleema Khan] until a formal order was issued by the party founder.

It is worth noting that on February 22, 2026, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had rejected claims made by Sher Afzal Marwat that Aleema Khan had sought the party chairmanship or wished to become the party’s leader.

Gohar had expressed disappointment over Marwat’s remarks during a television talk show and clarified that Aleema Khan had never sent him any message asking him to step down from the chairmanship.

He also stated that she had never conveyed any impression or message indicating that she intended to assume the party’s leadership.

Reporter: Tayab Saif