In Islamabad, tensions within the legal team of imprisoned former PrimeMinister Imran Khan escalated on Thursday. One member not only persisted inmaking grave accusations against the other but also criticized the seniorparty leadership for their alleged involvement in the dispute.
A day earlier, Advocate Sher Afzal Khan Marwat had referred to seniorcounsel Shoaib Shaheen as the “sole traitor” within Imran Khan’s legalteam, both of whom are part of the PTI chief’s legal counsel. Shaheen hadalso recently been appointed as the PTI spokesperson.
On Thursday, Marwat gained attention on social media after a revelation bysenior anchorperson Javed Chaudhry on his YouTube channel that Marwatengaged in a physical altercation with PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah Khanduring a live TV show.
Marwat, in a previous conversation, had stated that Shaheen mysteriouslyappeared in the PTI’s legal committee meeting in Bani Gala in late April2023, emphasizing that Shaheen had no prior affiliation with PTI or itsInsaf Lawyers Forum (ILF).
Marwat questioned Shaheen’s professional background, alleging that he hadonly dealt with service tribunal cases and lacked knowledge of criminallaw. Marwat further accused Shaheen of leaking PTI’s strategy to stateattorneys and an intelligence agency.
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In response, a PTI spokesperson issued a statement clarifying that theparty did not endorse Marwat’s tweet about Advocate Shaheen and expressedhigh regard for Shaheen as a key member of PTI’s legal team.
The spokesperson emphasized the dedication and hard work of the PTI legalteam in defending the party chairman, leaders, and workers amid challengingcircumstances. Marwat later criticized the PTI spokesperson for defendingShaheen through an official press release but not acknowledging Shaheen’scontributions to the PTI legal team.
He challenged the spokesperson to highlight Shaheen’s achievements indefending PTI leaders in court and continued to level accusations againstShaheen, expressing concern about the presence of traitors within theparty’s ranks obstructing efforts to free Khan from jail.
