ISLAMABAD: PTI on Friday suspended the membership of renegade party leader Major (retd) Khurram Hameed Rokhri after party chief Imran Khan rejected allegations leveled against a senior army officer.
PTI’s Mianwali president Saleem Gul Khan said in a notification that “after consultation with the top party leadership, the primary party membership of Major (retd) Khurram Hameed Khan Rokhart has been terminated”.
Explaining the reason for his dismissal, Khan said he violated party policy and spoke to the media against the party’s version without prior permission.
“From now on, he is no longer in the PTI,” he said, as he advised media personnel not to consider him a party leader and instructed government officers and officials not to entertain him.
PTI senior vice-president Fawad Chaudhry had yesterday claimed that Rokhri was not a member of the party and asked: “Who is this?” But despite Rokhri’s claim that he is not a party leader, his suspension notification has been issued.
What did Rokhri Say?
A day earlier, PTI leader Major (retd) Rokhri denied the allegations against a senior army officer, saying he was a man of principle.
A group of miscreants revolving around “poor” Khan has brought him to this point, he said, adding that he does not pay attention to people who are loyal to him, including his sisters.
Giving details, he said that in the meeting in Bani Gala, it was said that the General Officer has been assigned the task of crushing Imran Khan’s narrative and PTI.
However, Rukhari said he intervened in the meeting and told the PTI leadership that the officer was a consummate professional and a man of principles who would not sell his conscience and honor to please anyone.
Rokhri said Salman Ahmed informed Imran Khan of his views on the officer, the PTI chief asked Salman to direct Rokhri to confront the officer. Rukhari said that he met the officer as per Imran’s wish.
Rukhari said that when he asked the officer if he had been tasked to crush the PTI, he replied: “What are you talking about; don’t you know me on the martyrdom day of General Sarfaraz?” was appointed (in this office). Imran is the leader and hero of the biggest political party in the country. Why should I go against him? If some people are saying such things to Imran, then tell me there is nothing like that.
‘Stop the Name Calling’
The PTI leader said that the officer informed Imran of what he said, and on his suggestion, the officer was also ready to meet the PTI chief.
Rukhari said he met the officer again, who said: “You guys should continue your struggle. If there is any obstruction from our side, we will be responsible. You guys should stop calling names of generals and martyrs.”
The PTI leader also told Mir that he met the officer for the third time with Salman as Imran’s spokesperson. He further said that the meetings with the officer took place after the Shehbaz Gul incident.
Rukhari said that when Salman asked for another meeting, he advised the PTI chief to meet the officer.
“The PTI sent me terms for talks, which I sent to the people I named. They agreed to meet but suggested a place other than theirs or ours.
Rukhari added that Salman later invited him to Islamabad to meet Imran, but he could not meet the PTI chief despite the long wait. According to Rukhari, he was called again but could not meet the party chief. He further said that when he was called for the third time after the attack on Imran, he refused to meet.
He said he wanted to bring things back to normal but refused, telling them (PTI leaders) that they would not be part of the game they had started. He scoffed: Didn’t Alvi Sahib arrange the meeting?
The PTI leader said that he spoke the truth about the general officer on a TV channel but the abuse brigade started targeting him. He added that Faisal Vawda was also sincerely trying to spoil the situation but the “abuse brigade” was behind him.
Rukhari also questioned the narrative that the party is building on the Long March, adding that the PTI chief’s power is the people’s votes, not the mob that can help him form the government.
