Aleema's control over PTI's social media irks party leaders: Report

Aleema Khan, sister of jailed Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has effectively taken control of the party's direction, largely through her influence over its social media, a report said citing party sources.

- Tariq Butt

The development comes when the PTI is increasingly marred by internal strife. It has caused major internal divisions and not only derailed what insiders believe was another serious opportunity for dialogue with the government but furthered the problems for the party and Imran Khan.

Party sources said that Aleema Khan is not only dominating PTI’s social media strategy but is also shaping key political decisions by influencing her brother directly or through other sisters. Imran Khan is being consistently told that he is being isolated, that his authority is being weakened and that others are attempting to hijack the party from him.

A senior but unelected PTI leader is reportedly aligned with Aleema Khan. Together, they have enabled a faction within the party that now targets elected leaders like PTI Chairman Bar-rister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Both leaders have become the subject of intense criticism from PTI’s official and unofficial social media accounts, where they are often dubbed as “traitors” for allegedly deviating from the party's hardline stance.