Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday issued a gag order for party leaders, warning that those who comment on “internal party affairs” in public will be ripped off their basic membership.
In a circular issued from the PTI’s Central Secretariat, party members have been told to keep their discussions on party matters “within the party”.
“PTI is a democratic party and members have the right to express their opinion within the party,” reads the notice sent out to members on Tuesday.
“Subsequently if any member goes public and challenges party decisions, it is a serious breach of discipline and unacceptable.” In addition to suspension of basic party membership, Imran Khan also warned public dissenters among his party’s ranks of “further action… after following due process”.
The PTI chief had issued a similar memo in March this year in which he had warned party leaders against speaking about “internal party affairs” in public.