Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has dismissed reports suggesting major changes to its internal decision-making structure, insisting that its core committee has neither been sidelined nor stripped of its authority. The clarification comes amid political uncertainty surrounding the party’s leadership, ongoing detentions and restrictions on access to imprisoned founder Imran Khan.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said on Sunday, October 25, that the party’s core committee, political committee and parliamentary party remain separate bodies with clearly defined responsibilities. He maintained that no decision had been taken to transfer the core committee’s powers to another forum.

PTI Clarifies Roles of Its Decision-Making Bodies

According to Akram, the core and political committees are responsible for organisational and political matters, while the parliamentary party deals primarily with legislative business and parliamentary affairs. Recommendations made by the parliamentary party are considered and may be forwarded to the relevant committees, but they do not automatically override the existing decision-making structure.

Akram also reaffirmed that Imran Khan retains ultimate authority over party decisions. Although Khan has delegated responsibilities to different committees, the party maintains that significant changes to its organisational structure cannot be made without his approval.

The clarification follows reports suggesting that the parliamentary party could receive greater authority at the expense of the core committee. PTI officials say those reports incorrectly presented internal recommendations as final decisions.

Proposal to Strengthen Parliamentary Committee Was Not Approved

PTI leader Naeem Haider Panjutha explained that Barrister Ali Zafar had suggested strengthening the parliamentary committee during an internal meeting. However, he stressed that the suggestion remained a proposal and had not been formally adopted.

Panjutha said the political committee was originally established to make decision-making more efficient because the core committee’s large membership made consultations difficult. The smaller forum was also intended to reduce the risk of confidential discussions being leaked.

Under the existing arrangement, the political committee exercises delegated decision-making authority while keeping the core committee informed before important decisions are finalised.

Another proposal involved including the heads of PTI’s organisational bodies in the political committee. However, no final decision on that suggestion was reported.

Imran Khan Remains Central to Party Decisions

Panjutha maintained that major responsibilities within PTI had already been assigned through Imran Khan’s directions. Opposition leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas were entrusted with responsibilities concerning political mobilisation and negotiations, while Sohail Afridi was assigned leadership of the street movement.

He questioned how the party’s existing arrangements could be changed without Khan’s consent, reinforcing PTI’s position that its imprisoned founder remains the ultimate decision-making authority.

The party also rejected a statement attributed to interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan suggesting that Sohail Afridi could have avoided detention by remaining in Mardan but had travelled to Peshawar as part of a predetermined plan. PTI denied that the statement accurately represented its position.

PTI Raises Concerns Over Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s Detention

Alongside its organisational clarification, PTI issued a separate statement condemning the continued imprisonment of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, as well as restrictions on their access to family members and legal representatives.

Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed that Khan had spent 1,177 days in detention, including 356 days in solitary confinement, while Bushra Bibi had remained imprisoned for more than 911 days. These figures were presented by PTI and were not independently verified in the report.

The party also expressed concern about Khan’s medical care and demanded regular access to his personal physician, along with a comprehensive examination by qualified specialists.

PTI maintained that restrictions on meetings with lawyers, relatives and party representatives were affecting Khan’s fundamental and constitutional rights.

Party Demands Release of Imran Khan’s Sisters and Detained Leaders

PTI also criticised the continued detention of Khan’s sisters, alleging that they remained in custody despite the completion of their reported 30-day detention period under the Maintenance of Public Order law.

The party demanded their immediate release, along with detained political leaders, elected representatives and workers.

Akram argued that preventive detention powers should not be used to suppress political disagreement and called for constitutional safeguards and due process to be respected.

These statements represent PTI’s position regarding the detentions. The latest report did not establish an independent judicial finding on the legality of each detention.

Internal Stability Remains Important Amid Political Pressure

The clarification over committee responsibilities comes at a sensitive time for PTI, which continues to face political and organisational challenges following the recent confrontation between the federal government and the party.

Restrictions on communication with Imran Khan have made internal coordination particularly important, especially when major political decisions require consultation with the party’s founder.

The debate over committee powers also reflects the practical difficulty of managing a large political organisation through several decision-making forums while its central leader remains imprisoned.

For now, PTI insists that its existing structure remains unchanged. The core committee continues to handle organisational responsibilities, the political committee retains its delegated role, and the parliamentary party remains focused on legislative matters.

The party’s central message is that proposals for internal reform should not be mistaken for approved changes, and Imran Khan continues to hold final authority over PTI’s major decisions.