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PTI Expels Salman Ahmad Over Anti-Imran Khan Family Campaign
PTI terminates Salman Ahmad's membership after his critical posts against Imran Khan's family. Once a strong supporter, Ahmad now faces expulsion for "sowing division" within the party.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-19
PTI Expels Salman Ahmad Over Anti-Imran Khan Family Campaign

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expelled musician Salman Ahmad, a long-time supporter and cultural representative of the party, for allegedly running a campaign against the family of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan.

Ahmad, known for his active involvement in PTI’s political rallies, recently took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, accusing her of political interference during the November 26 protests. His remarks triggered outrage among PTI supporters.

Imran Khan's Reaction

Imran Khan, while speaking to journalists at Adiala Jail last week, condemned Ahmad’s allegations against Bushra Bibi. He described the posts as “foolish” and emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated within the party.

Official Notification of Expulsion

A notification issued by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan from the PTI Central Secretariat stated that Ahmad had “consistently sought to sow division and discontent” among party members through his controversial social media posts.

“You are aware of those posts, including the posts against the family of Imran Khan,” read the notification.

It further declared that Ahmad’s basic membership had been terminated effective immediately. He was instructed not to claim any association with the party in the future.

The notification also noted that PTI’s Core Committee had previously issued warnings to Ahmad to cease his objectionable online activity. Despite repeated admonishments, Ahmad persisted in posting content deemed defamatory to the party and its leadership.

Ahmad’s History with PTI

Salman Ahmad has been a vocal supporter of PTI for years, often performing songs at the party’s rallies to boost morale among supporters. In 2022, he was appointed as Imran Khan’s focal person on cultural matters.

Ahmad’s association with PTI also made headlines in 2016 when he was briefly detained by Islamabad police outside Imran’s residence in Bani Gala while attempting to meet the former cricketer-turned-politician.

Fallout from the Expulsion

Ahmad’s expulsion marks a significant shift in his relationship with the party, raising questions about dissent within PTI ranks. Once celebrated as a staunch ally, Ahmad’s actions and subsequent removal highlight the party’s zero-tolerance stance toward public criticism of its leadership.

This development comes amid a politically charged environment in Pakistan, as PTI continues to navigate internal challenges and external pressures following the May 9 riots and ongoing legal proceedings against its leadership.

The termination of Ahmad’s membership underscores PTI’s efforts to maintain discipline within its ranks, especially during a period of heightened scrutiny and political turmoil.
Tagged:

PTI

ImranKhan

BushraBibi

PoliticalTurmoil

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