ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information Shaukat Yousafzai became emotional and broke into tears during a live TV interview, saying he is being accused of selling out.
Yousafzai was speaking on Geo News program ‘Geo Pakistan’ where he reacted to the statement made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
PTI’s Shaukat Yousafzai had written a letter to party Chairman Barrister Gohar and other leaders, requesting them to immediately postpone the planned long march in the larger national interest. In response, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi publicly announced that he would throw Shaukat Yousafzai’s letter into the dustbin.
Reacting to this, an emotional Shaukat Yousafzai said: “I am being suspected that I have been bought. As a senior member, I had expressed a concern because I talk about principles. I am not afraid of anything. I had expressed similar concerns even during the November 26 protest.
“He said he was hurt by CM Sohail Afridi’s remarks.”I felt bad about what the Chief Minister said about my letter. I did not expect this from Sohail Afridi. I defended Sohail Afridi, saying that he is not a facilitator of terrorists. When he announced the march on October 4, I said I would be the first one to join,” he said.
Yousafzai complained about the abusive language used against him on social media by his own party activists.”I am saddened by the language used against me on social media. Due to social media activists, the party is suffering damage,” he added. He reminded that those who have stayed with PTI after May 9 have seen very tough times.
Despite the internal rift, the PTI Secretary Information refused to leave the party. “There is no question of me leaving the party,” he clarified. The incident has highlighted a clear internal divide within PTI over the decision to hold a long march, with senior leaders like Shaukat Yousafzai advocating for postponement while the KP Chief Minister’s group is pushing ahead.
Read also: October 4 March Could Turn Violent, Govt May Fall, Warns PTI’s Shaukat Yousafzai
