Islamabad: PTI Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Marwat held a press conference on Tuesday to formally disassociate his party from social media activists Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi, both former army officers with significant YouTube followings. Marwat labeled them as “wrong numbers” and accused them of maligning the state of Pakistan and its armed forces.
Marwat specifically referenced Adil Raja’s marathon live broadcast following the May 9 events, during which military institutions were attacked following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. He emphasized that despite Raja portraying himself as a PTI sympathizer, he and Mehdi were not associated with the party.
Marwat reiterated PTI’s stance as a patriotic party supportive of the Pakistan Army, emphasizing the narrative set forth by Imran Khan. He expressed regret over accusations of the PTI being anti-state following the May 9 events and urged PTI workers and supporters to reject Raja and Mehdi.
Last year in November, both Raja and Mehdi were sentenced to jail terms of 14 and 12 years, respectively, after their Field General Court Martial found them guilty of “inciting sedition” and other charges related to violating the Official Secrets Act. Despite the convictions, neither Raja nor Mehdi have served their sentences as they are currently based outside of Pakistan.
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Marwat concluded the conference by reaffirming PTI’s commitment to lawful means of political struggle and distancing the party from individuals who engage in activities deemed detrimental to the state and its institutions.
