• Salman Akram Raja claims he repeatedly asked Imran to relieve him
• Dismisses Aleema’s criticism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Wednesday reiterated that he would send his resignation to party founder Imran Khan, saying he had no desire to hold the position.

Speaking to media persons, he said he had repeatedly conveyed to Imran that he did not want the role.

“This party position has been imposed on me. I told Khan Sahib 10 times that I did not want this position. Even after assuming the role, I requested him again that I do not wish to continue,” he said.

He added that in response, Imran had sent his sisters to persuade him not to resign. “They told me that Khan Sahib had never sent them to request anyone before and asked me not to step down,” he said while replying to questions that Aleema Khan had said that the PTI leadership was not doing justice to the party positions.

Mr Raja maintained that he would again convey his intention to resign to the PTI founder at the next opportunity. “I cannot resign unilaterally as Khan Sahib has entrusted me with this responsibility, but I will reiterate that I do not wish to retain the position,” he said.

When asked about remarks by Aleema Khan, who had criticised the party leadership and named him among those failing to devise a strategy for Imran Khan’s release, Mr Raja said she does not understand political issues and strategy.

“We understand the issues and there are experienced people in the party. We have to bring Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas back as they have become disheartened. We will take all possible steps that are beneficial for Pakistan and PTI,” he claimed.

“Imran Khan had shared names of people whom we should consult for taking political decisions and devising a political strategy. We believe that it is time to make political alliances and make the party united and organised. If we take 10,000 to 20,000 people on the roads, we will only get bodies,” he said.

Mr Raja also said Barrister Salman Safdar, who recently met Imran, had informed PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar about the postponement of the April 9 rally.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2026