Mashal Yousafzai ties PTI’s backing of 28th Amendment to Imran Khan’s relief
Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) senator Mashal Yousafzai said on ARY News’ program Khabar that her support, along with that of 25 fellow senators, for the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment depends on whether it benefits party founder Imran Khan. She added that if the amendment were to facilitate Khan’s release, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan would cast his vote before her. Yousafzai stressed she would not have raised the amendment at all if Khan opposed its provisions.
The senator also took aim at Mahmood Khan Achakzai, accusing him of failing to fulfil his duties in negotiations related to Khan. According to Yousafzai, Achakzai was appointed by Khan to lead talks but made little headway over the past year. She argued that he should have spoken for the opposition in recent discussions, yet he travelled to Quetta, ignored calls, and only returned after PTI lost its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yousafzai said Achakzai repeatedly avoided the speaker’s chamber and that national interests must trump personal ones. She further claimed Achakzai entered the assembly on PTI seats using Form 47.
Yousafzai also criticized the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen‑e‑Pakistan, noting that PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan told its members he would no longer sit with them. Defending Barrister Saif, she said the PTI‑PML‑N dispute centered on seats and that Achakzai, who had no problem with the prime minister, should have taken part in the talks. She praised Saif for maintaining contacts with both sides, arranging meetings with Khan, and intervening when discussions with Bushra Bibi were halted.
She mentioned that Salman Akram Raja and Intizar Panjutha could not advance the issue at Adiala Jail. Yousafzai added that Asad Qaiser was upset with Saif over a personal matter, wanting his brother to become chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Saif facilitated a meeting between Qaiser and Khan at the jail, but Khan rejected the proposal, and Yousafzai said Saif should not be blamed for the outcome. She reaffirmed that PTI is a national party and has no objection to holding governments in additional provinces.
Regarding the party’s long‑march plan, Yousafzai said attempts had been made to install Meena Khan as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but those handling Plans B, C and D were not responding, leaving many members in the dark. She named Shahid Khattak and Shafi Jan as among those who have not answered calls, and noted that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has not shared the strategy with anyone, taking it with him. Yousafzai claimed a small, closed group drafted the long‑march blueprint to prevent leaks, and she complained that earlier decisions were made behind closed doors while others faced criticism. She announced that future PTI decisions will be taken through voting, eliminating any single group’s unilateral control. Finally, she observed that the long march appears stalled and suggested that Khattak could clarify the plan if he chose to come forward.