The rift between the PTI and the TTAP deepens after the latter rejects a formal invitation to participate in an April 19 rally, exposing internal divisions within the PTI, with rival factions trading accusations of unilateral action and government appeasement. Party sources and a TTAP official say Mehmood Khan Achakzai refused to attend the April 19 rally, citing two concerns: that a rally in KP would be futile and that the TTAP was not consulted before the announcement. According to sources, on Tuesday, PTI KP leader Atif Khan initially approached TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain and later contacted TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai seeking an announcement of his participation in the April 19 rally in Mardan. A senior PTI leader and a key official on Wednesday night confirmed to The Express PAkGazette that Achakzai had refused to attend the rally, adding that the TTAP chief’s decision to skip the PTI event was justified, noting that it was the third time the opposition alliance had been sidelined in major decisions. From the formation of Imran Khan "Release force" Until the announcement of the April 9 rally and then the April 19 rally, the PTI KP leadership took every decision without consulting the TTAP leadership, which the PTI was obliged to do, according to the orders of the party founder. He said the party supported the TTAP, calling its objection valid, adding that younger KP leaders had a tendency to act unilaterally. He said Salman Akram Raja’s outburst over a question on Aleema Khan’s comments highlighted the deepening divisions within the PTI. He said this group in KP has limited political knowledge but considers themselves political figures similar to Aristotle. He said Shahid Khattak’s comments in the media against the TTAP leadership, in which he allegedly claimed that the PTI would strip Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir of their positions and powers, reflected a superficial understanding of alliance politics. "Now pygmies like Shahid Khattak will decide how the PTI will function," he joked. Another PTI official said objections to the central leadership were justified, alleging that he was running the party according to the state’s expectations without getting relief for Imran Khan, who is reportedly on the verge of losing sight in one eye. He added that the main criticism was directed at lawyer Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja. "They have no policy or direction and have failed to create leverage for negotiations. On the contrary, KP CM Sohail Afridi and his team are trying to pressure the government into talks."
Another leader said that the KP chief minister and his team are aligned with Aleema Khan, and that she is kept in the loop on important decisions. He added that this group considers the central leadership to be soft and is not willing to take a hard line with the state. When contacted, PTI central spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said there were differences of opinion within the party on some issues. On the TTAP, he said he had been informed that the group had reservations about the upcoming rally and added that the PTI would soon call a meeting to address the issues. TTAP spokesman Hussain confirmed that the alliance was not consulted before the Mardan rally. However, he said he was not aware of the outcome of the talks between Atif Khan and Achakzai.
