ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Thursday reaffirmed its support for Sohail Afridi, the ex-chief minister who was rendered nonfunctional after the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ruling out any move within the party to consider an alternative candidate for the office.

Afridi has not been seen since the Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11. The very next day, a federal minister confirmed that he and some of his cabinet members were in preventive custody.

In the notification issued by the party’s central secretariat for the “purpose of clarity and emphasis”, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that Afridi “remains and shall continue” to serve as the KP chief minister with the “confidence and support” of party founder and ex-premier Imran Khan.

“All PTI members, office-bearers, parliamentarians and party functionaries are hereby directed not to convene or participate in any meeting, introduce any agenda, initiate or entertain any proposal, or encourage or engage in any discussion concerning the nomination, replacement or consideration for the office of chief minister,” the notification said.

“It is categorically reiterated that no one other than the founding chairman has the authority to nominate an alternative candidate or alter this decision in any manner whatsoever. His decisions in this regard are final and binding upon all party members,” it said.

In a post on X, Barrister Gohar said that all party members part of the KP Assembly were a “source of pride for us” and that they had stayed loyal to Imran, complied with every decision and remained steadfast.

“However, in view of the unnecessary speculation and discussions circulating on social media and certain TV channels regarding the chief minister, this notification has been issued to provide further clarification and reassure party workers and supporters that decisions within our party are made solely in accordance with the directives of Imran Khan sahib,” he said.

The development comes after several PTI members expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership’s handling of the prevailing challenges, questioning its decisions and overreliance on Afridi.

Heated arguments were witnessed during a joint parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday that lasted over seven hours, with some questioning why the top leadership had handed so much authority to Afridi, who, they said, held no position within the party hierarchy.

Some criticised the PTI chairman and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, questioning why the party leadership appeared to be functioning under Afridi.

They alleged that the top leadership had left everything to Afridi, who had become non-functional after the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, because of its interest in transfers, postings and financial matters in the province.