Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai broke down during a live television programme over internal criticism of his letter to the party’s central leadership regarding the postponement of the October 4 long march, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s attitude and social media trolling. Speaking on Geo news’ programme, Shaukat Yousafzai became highly emotional and said that, as a senior and longstanding party member, he had expressed his concerns about the constitutional and security threats facing the country and the party.

However, he said he was deeply hurt by what Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said in the media about his letter, adding that he had never expected such behaviour from him. Speaking about the allegations against him, Shaukat Yousafzai became tearful on the programme and said that he was being unjustifiably suspected of having possibly been bought off. He said he had always spoken on principles and was not afraid of anyone. He further said that he had defended Sohail Afridi everywhere, stating that he could not possibly be an enabler of terrorists.

When Sohail Afridi announced the march for October 4, he said he was the first to say that he would be at the very forefront of the march. Despite this, he said, he was deeply saddened by the kind of abusive language used against him on the party’s social media platforms. Referring to the May 9 events, the PTI leader said all leaders and workers who had stood by the party since May 9 had endured an extremely difficult time. He said he had expressed the same concerns during the November 26 protest as well, adding that these social media trolls were “dishonourable” and were causing irreparable damage to the party. However, he made it clear that there was no question of him leaving PTI and said he was loyal to Imran Khan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)