Sahibzada Hamid Raza, head of the Sunni Ittehad Council, has resigned from both the Political Committee and Core Committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He also announced his intention to resign from the National Assembly.
Speaking on a private TV channel on Thursday, Hamid Raza confirmed his decision to distance himself from PTI’s mainstream leadership following the fallout of the party’s “final call” and the subsequent situation.
Hamid Raza explained that criticism regarding the lack of participation in protests from Punjab led to his resignation. He emphasized that negotiations should have been given a chance.
He further mentioned that while he was an ally in PTI and will remain so in the future, he had some differences, particularly with the decision to march towards D-Chowk, a decision he was not involved in. He noted that no meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan took place on that day.
Hamid Raza clarified that rumors about Asad Qaiser becoming PTI chairman and Ali Muhammad Khan being appointed secretary-general were false. He added that consultations within PTI are ongoing, but Bushra Bibi is not part of the discussions.
Reports indicate that Sahibzada Hamid Raza met with PTI founder Imran Khan and decided to resign from the National Assembly due to criticism and disagreements following the November 24 “final call.”
Previously, after Imran Khan’s arrest, Sahibzada Hamid Raza had been included in PTI’s political and core committees. PTI members had also utilized the Sunni Ittehad Council platform to enhance parliamentary roles.
Notably, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja had also resigned earlier, confirmed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan. However, no official clarification regarding Sahibzada Hamid Raza’s resignation has yet been issued.
Senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja was appointed as PTI’s Secretary-General in September following Umar Ayub’s resignation. He had faced severe criticism for not playing an active role within the party.
