Sunni Ittehad Council chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza has warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders against causing fissures within the party after Sher Afzal Marwat aired his grievances on a private TV channel.

“It is better for friends in PTI to resolve their matters at home,” he said in a post on X on Friday, clarifying that the decision to join the SIC was made by former prime minister Imran Khan.

Earlier, Marwat labelled the partnership with SIC as a “mistake” and alleged that Khan had initially directed the party to align with the Shirani group. But Marwat claimed that discussions suddenly shifted towards an alliance with Raza’s party, despite an offer from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Shirani for an unconditional alliance with PTI.

He claimed that an alliance with the Shirani group would not have led to problems for the party.

But Raza claimed that Khan decided to join the SIC and no request was made from his side. “From election symbols to specific seats, I have something to say that if I sit in talk shows and say something, many people will not be able to show their faces,” he said.

The SIC chief added that he committed with the PTI founder which would remain forever. “I cannot think bad for Imran Khan for bad publicity and I am silent only for this reason.”

Meanwhile, PTI leader Ali Zafar told said Khan was informed about the party’s decision to join the SIC after it was taken.

He told Dawn News show InFocus that the decision was taken that the PTI should go with a party which contested the general elections and had a member in Parliament.

“We wanted to join a party for the reserved seats,” he said.