PTI’s Foreign Affairs Committee dissolution disappoints party supporters in US

NEW YORK: The abrupt dissolution of PTI’s four-member Foreign Affairs/International Relations Committee by party founder Imran Khan — just 48 days after its formation — has left party activists in the USA shocked and disappointed.

The committee, established on January 28, 2025, under Imran Khan’s directives, was seen as a key platform for PTI’s international engagements. Its dissolution has puzzled PTI supporters in the US, especially in the light of the committee’s reported success in garnering statements and letters from 68 US Congress members and several senators advocating for Imran Khan’s release. Many had also anticipated potential intervention from President Donald Trump in support of the PTI founder.

Sajjad Burki, a longtime associate of Imran Khan and a key figure in PTI’s US government-registered (F.A.R.A) organisation and fundraising efforts since 1975, has remained silent on the matter despite efforts to seek his stance.

Adding to the PTI supporters’ disappointment, a recent statement by US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has also dampened hopes of international support. When asked about Imran Khan’s situation during a briefing, Bruce stated that the US would not interfere in any country’s [Pakistan’s] internal affairs.

PTI insiders suggest several factors behind the committee’s dissolution, including dissatisfaction among major fundraisers and donors, internal discord among committee members, and discontent expressed by two of Imran Khan’s closest allies, Zulfi Bukhari and Sajjad Burki.

A well-placed source revealed that Sajjad Burki’s input played a role in the decision to disband the committee. So far, there has been no clear indication of support for Imran Khan from the Trump administration, despite the Republican Party’s control of Congress and Trump’s aggressive stance against Democratic policies. While 68 Congress members had previously signed a joint letter in support of PTI’s cause, seeking further backing from Democrats could potentially alienate Trump’s Republican base.

The swift rise and fall of PTI’s Foreign Affairs/International Relations Committee appears to be a result of internal divisions, lack of mutual trust among its members and the Trump administration’s apparent indifference to the issue.