Lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat has claimed that efforts were being made to create a rift between him and jailed party founder Imran Khan on the directives of “establishment.”

“Those who compromised people and those who have ruined the party are responsible for this,” he said while appearing on the Aaj News programme Rubaroo on Sunday.

Marwat was expelled from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday following his comments at the Swabi rally. But PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan was unaware of the development and Salman Akram Raja, who once took exception to the lawmaker’s comments, denied any involvement in the matter.

The lawmaker, known for his vocal demeanour, also asked his party leaders the reason behind his expulsion from the party in the National Assembly session on Friday.

“I will again say that any Pakistan can say tell me why I was expelled from the party.”

‘Salman Akram Raja and Company’

While reacting to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja’s comments, Marwat said that he would not allow “people like Raja to besiege the party.”

He wondered how Raja could serve in such a capacity while being a Supreme Court lawyer. He alleged that the party’s constitution was violated after people were “accommodated” for different positions.

“There are many people who want to besiege the party and he [PTI secretary general] is their mouthpiece.” He refrained from speaking about more party leaders who he believes are not honest with the PTI.

He went on to add that the PTI has failed in the last year and claimed that he was labelled as a “traitor” after political leadership showed up after the elections. “These are people who expelled me from the party three times. Raja is one face there are more… ‘Raja and Company’.”

At one point, he said that the PTI would have been in a better position if party leaders had opposed the nomination of Usman Buzadar as Punjab chief minister, Pervez Khattak and Mehmood Khan’s nomination for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and dissolving assemblies.

He took exception to the fact that “similar faces” were meeting Khan for almost a year.

When asked who made the list, he lamented that it was him and added that his writ petitions filed for party leaders, lawyers, and family members’ access to Khan in the jail were approved by the Islamabad High Court.

Marwat accused some of the political leadership of blocking his access to Khan. He added that there was a group within the part whom he described as “fitna”. According to him, leaders in KP were affected by the decisions of top leadership.

“My concern is that nothing should be hidden from workers.”

Marwat added that he was not heard prior to the party’s decision to expel him.

When asked about his naysayers’ concern that he was not present at the November 26 protest, he said that he was present at the China Chowk and advised workers to avoid heading to D-Chowk. The PTI lawmaker added that he was not present on the site when Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur went from the site.

He reiterated that the party leaders should mention the reason behind his expulsion, expressing his frustration over such decisions being taken several times.

Marwat alleged that one of his colleagues is always present when party leaders meet Khan in the jail, mentioning that he was aware of the discussions.

He replied in affirmative when asked whether matters were “80% to 90%” final for the jailed former prime minister’s release. The PTI leader added that he would relinquish his MNA seat when Khan would ask him.

According to him, many people were “in an effort to topple the KP government” and they were jealous of Gandapur. He added that he was not being allowed by the party leadership to visit Punjab for mobilising workers.