PTI suspends Hamid Khan’s basic membership

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sunday suspended the basic party membership of Hamid Khan, one of the founding leaders of PTI and the closest party leaders of Chairman Imran Khan, for allegedly tarnishing the image of the party in the print and electronic media.

The senior Supreme Court lawyer has also been given seven days to explain his position over allegedly speaking against and defaming the party, according to a notification issued. Hamid Khan has also served as president of the Supreme Court Br Association besides as senior vice chairman of PTI.

The decision regarding Hamid Khan was taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the chairman of the ruling party. “You are given seven days to explain your position in writing as to why action should not be taken against you under the party constitution i.e. expulsion from the party,” the notice says.

The show-cause notice says, “It has been noted by the party Secretary General and PTI Chairman Imran Khan that you have repeatedly in the print and electronic media spoken against and maligned/defamed the party without any justification and on the basis of fake and false allegations which amount to mala fide”.

The notice also says, “Whereas you are hereby charged with having committed misconduct, violated the party discipline and party constitution by inter-alia making fake, false frivolous wrong allegations, bringing party matters in the media for ulterior motives and thereby acting against the party interests and also hurting the feelings of party members and workers”.

“It is noted that you have been repeatedly, in the print and electronic media, spoken against and maligned/defamed the party without any justification, and on the basis of fake and false allegations which amount to mala fide,” read the notification.

The party secretary general said in the notice that in view thereof, Hamid Khan’s behaviour had badly damaged image of the party within Pakistan and outside the country. Hamid Khan has been also barred from speaking against the party on electric and print, as well as, on social media during the inquiry proceedings.