Gross violation of party discipline: PTI cancels Marwat’s basic membership

ISLAMABAD: After much controversy, the PTI has sealed the fate of its senior leader Sher Afzal Marwat MNA, cancelling his basic party membership over ‘gross breach/violation of discipline’.

Responding to the decision on the social media, Marwat said he respected the decision but would remain (Imran) Khan’s soldier and take his electorate and tribe into confidence.

He said if any of his actions offended any party leader or worker, he sincerely apologised to them.

“The principles of respect should not be violated because I have no political ambitions. So, this decision will not have a positive or negative impact on my future, but I will regret that a unilateral decision was passed against me without a formal hearing,” he added. Marwat was instantly made senior vice-president of the party, following his bizarre showdown with a PMLN senator a few months back and then made in charge of the PTI’s proposed public meeting in Islamabad. But he soon lost Imran’s confidence and was served a show-cause notice and his membership of two key party positions was cancelled.

The reason for this chain of actions against him was his alleged violation of the party discipline and issuing statements, which displeased the party founder and were seen as hurting his ties with Saudi Arabia.

About the latest decision closing the party’s doors on him, Marwat said, “I respect the party’s decision but let me make one thing clear that I was, am and will remain Khan’s soldier, I will try my best for the release of my leader.”

He believed that people had spoken against him to Imran, creating misunderstandings.

“I will try to meet with my leader and present my position to him. I will try to satisfy him; if he is not satisfied, then the seat is his trust. I will return it. I am sure my leader will be free soon,” he said.

PTI’s Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi issued a statement that the party had decided to cancel the basic membership of Sher Afzal Marwat over gross violation/breach of discipline.

“The committee has come to the conclusion that Sher Afzal Marwat has no regards for the rules and discipline of the party and considers himself above the party regulations consequentially badly affecting the image of the party and the narrative,” he said.

On the basis of findings of the committee and his latest statements and complaints received, he noted, the committee had recommended termination of his membership and the same has been approved by the founder chairman Imran Khan.

The committee also said if Marwat is an honourable person, he should leave the National Assembly seat which he won as a nominated PTI candidate and seek re-election.