Special Report: In a surprising political move, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expelled its senior party leader and Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Sher Afzal Marwat. The decision was formally announced through a notification issued on Wednesday night, signed by PTI’s Additional Secretary General, Firdous Shamim Naqvi.
The notification stated that before his expulsion, Sher Afzal Marwat was served a show-cause notice. His response to the notice, along with PTI founder Imran Khan’s directives, led to the decision to remove him from the party.
This marks the end—at least for now—of Sher Afzal Marwat’s nearly eight-year-long association with PTI, which he had joined in 2017.
Reacting to his expulsion on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sher Afzal Marwat wrote briefly: "Imran Khan was, is, and will remain my leader."
However, before the official announcement, he had already hinted at his possible removal, expressing his frustration over repeated attempts to defame him from within the party. In a post on X, he stated:
"I have been repeatedly defamed by my own party members. If I am expelled, I will welcome the decision because I am exhausted by the constant trolling. Due to party discipline, I have not been able to properly respond to these conspirators. If loyalty and sacrifices are repaid in such a terrible manner, no loyal person will dare to step forward for PTI and Khan Sahib."
He further claimed that internal conspirators had significantly harmed PTI by exploiting Imran Khan’s tendency to believe in rumors. He added:
"I have not left Khan Sahib, but if he has left me, I will never return. End it today! I will show what has been done to Khan Sahib and the party. I have many untold stories for the people of Pakistan. I will always respect Khan Sahib, and he will always be my leader. From now on, keep party discipline in your pocket!"
Sher Afzal Marwat was issued a show-cause notice for violating party rules and making controversial remarks against senior party leaders.
Although he was not a senior PTI leader during the party’s previous government, he emerged as a prominent figure after the events of May 9, 2023. Following the nationwide crackdown on PTI, he played a critical role in mobilizing party workers and organizing conventions.
During this period, Marwat faced multiple arrests, and several cases were filed against him. His public stance and candid statements regarding party leadership and policies also made him a controversial figure.
Sher Afzal Marwat's expulsion is extraordinary, just as his entry into PTI was. During the political turmoil after May 9—when many senior PTI leaders were abandoning the party, Imran Khan was under immense pressure, and PTI was struggling to campaign for elections—Sher Afzal Marwat unexpectedly stepped forward to revitalize the party.
At a time when PTI workers were afraid to even leave their homes, he spearheaded a robust election campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), playing a crucial role in PTI’s success in the province. However, despite leading PTI to electoral victory in KP, tensions between him and the party leadership escalated immediately after electoral Victory.
The growing tensions between Sher Afzal Marwat and the PTI leadership eventually led to his expulsion. His reaction suggests that a major confrontation between him and PTI leadership is imminent.
Marwat, now free from party discipline, has signaled that he will reveal internal party matters, which could have serious repercussions not only for PTI but also for Pakistan’s political landscape.
He expressed both anger and sorrow over his expulsion, stating that if this is how loyal party members are treated, it will discourage others from stepping forward in the future.
As the situation unfolds, Pakistan’s political arena awaits potential revelations from Sher Afzal Marwat, which may bring further challenges for PTI.
