PTI faces setback as Salman Raja resigns, Hammad Azhar withdraws from by-election

LAHORE:

 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced a fresh leadership jolt on Tuesday as Secretary General Salman Akram Raja announced his resignation, while senior leader Hammad Azhar withdrew from contesting the upcoming Lahore by-election.

Taking to X, Raja said an incident had compelled him to step down. “My life is an open book. None of my actions contradicts any principle. I do not accept compromise on intellectual and economic integrity. Tomorrow, I will resign from office by requesting Imran,” he posted.

He said he was not a traditional politician but had stood firm despite internal and external pressures. “We endured subtle attacks, accepted economic uncertainty, and faced false cases, but I regret nothing. I am not afraid of jail,” Raja said, highlighting his role in key cases such as the Tyrian, Iddat, cipher, military courts, and reserved seats disputes.

Raja revealed that he had requested Imran, through Advocate Ali Bukhari, to allow him to focus on legal battles earlier, but he had declined.

Meanwhile, Azhar, son of late veteran politician Mian Azhar, pulled out of the NA-129 contest, nominating his cousin Chaudhry Arsalan Zaheer as the family’s candidate.

Zaheer, a former chairman of Lahore’s fruit and vegetable market committee, has long worked alongside the Azhar family in electoral campaigns.

Azhar explained his withdrawal was due to personal constraints and legal vulnerabilities, including cases linked to the May 9 unrest. He said Zaheer’s clean legal record minimised disqualification risks, while his sister would supervise campaign operations.

Party insiders said PTI leadership had given Azhar discretion in choosing the candidate, though his legal troubles played a decisive role.