The PTI has gone through The Wringer in recent years, but its last situation stands out: the leadership of the party is turning a deaf ear to the repeated calls of the founding president Imran Khan to contribute to the party’s funds, even when he faces a severe financial creak. Party experts say that money problems are accumulating, with a perfect storm of challenges ranging from the freezing of the accounts of the institutions of the institutions to the leaders who keep the strings of their bag despite Khan’s instructions from the bars. While some PTI leaders publicly dismiss the claims of a financial crunch, experts reveal that the party is running in fumes. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that staff wages have been cut in half, and the party is now operating with a skeleton team. To add insult to the injury, the decision to fire staff and reduce the salaries of the remaining personnel has arrived when PTI legislators have just obtained an increase in their salaries in Parliament. Previously, legislators used to obtain a monthly salary of RS180,000, which has now increased for each MNA and senator to RS519,000. Everything had begun in January when a PTI circular, issued with Khan’s approval, ordered parliamentarians and ticket holders to make an annual contribution of RS240,000 with two six monthly deliveries in the party’s funds.
"The party is going through one of its most difficult moments in the history of the party," Read the circular, and added that the party has decided that it needs to resort to all those who occupy important positions at the party to raise the necessary funds to administer the party. The circular approved by Khan hoped to receive the necessary funds of the party leaders during January 2025 and, from then on, every six months. However, the party experts said, Khan’s instructions have not taken seriously until now and, as a result, the party was forced to reduce expenses by reducing wages and employees.
"I don’t know the exact position," A high PTI leader said: "But I think there are enough funds available for salaries and expenses in party funds. In response to several questions, the unconditional of the party revealed that money was not spent on the party’s funds for the recent visit of the party leaders to Sindh, saying that everyone took all their expenses or contributed to the visit. In addition, the PTI leader said that the recent group of opposition parties was sponsored by Awam Pakistan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and the head of PKMAP, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, saying that PTI also contributed, but most of the expenses were born by Abbasi and Achakzai.
"It’s not about not contributing to party funds, especially after Khan Sahib’s instructions," He emphasized. "RS240,000 is not much. I have no exact figures, but many have contributed." However, he offered no explanation to reduce party staff and reduce wages by half. PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party decided to raise funds from its members after the FIA and ECP froze their accounts, stopping financial tickets.
"It is the responsibility of the MNA, the MPA and the ticket holders to take care of the people who work for the party," said PTI spokesman. Akram clarified that he is the Secretary of Information does not interfere with the party’s finance department, but added that party leaders have contributed through the banks. He, however, had no exact details about the reasons that "It is not my apartment." He did not specifically comment on the dismissal of PTI employees and the cut of their salaries. Several other party leaders were also requested, including the president of the PTI, the lawyer Gohar, to share their comments, but did not.
