Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Has expelled its senior party leader and Member of the National Assembly, Sher Afzal Marwat. According to a Wednesday night notification signed by PTI's Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Marwat was served a show-cause notice before his expulsion. The notification states that after reviewing the show-cause notice and Marwat's response, and following the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan, he has been removed from the party. Thus, after nearly eight years of association with PTI since joining in 2017, Sher Afzal Marwat’s affiliation with the party has, for now, come to an end. Following the release of this notification, Marwat responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a brief statement: "Imran Khan was, is, and will remain my leader." However, before this notification was issued, Sher Afzal Marwat had already expressed concerns about his possible expulsion in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote "My party members have repeatedly defamed me. If I am expelled, I will welcome the decision because I am tired of the constant trolling. Due to party discipline, I cannot properly respond to these conspirators. If loyalty and sacrifices are rewarded terribly, no loyal person will dare to step forward for PTI and Khan Sahib." He further stated: "These conspirators have caused great harm to the party, as they have taken full advantage of Khan Sahib’s tendency to believe in rumors. I have not left Khan Sahib, but if he abandons me, I will never go back to him. End it today—I will reveal what you have done to Khan Sahib and the party. I have many untold stories for the people of Pakistan. I will always respect Khan Sahib, and he will always remain my leader. From now on, keep your party discipline in your pocket." It is important to note that Sher Afzal Marwat was issued a show-cause notice for violating party rules and making remarks against senior party leaders. During PTI’s previous tenure, Sher Afzal Marwat was not among the senior party leaders. However, after the events of May 9, he suddenly emerged as a prominent face of PTI. Following May 9, he was arrested multiple times and faced numerous legal cases. The popular perception about Sher Afzal Marwat is that after Imran Khan’s arrest, he played a crucial role in mobilizing the party and actively engaging large crowds in workers' conventions. However, during this period, he also faced controversies due to his outspoken opinions on party leadership and policies. His heated exchanges with various party leaders and bold statements frequently made media headlines. Sher Afzal Marwat joined PTI in 2017, and during the 2018 elections, he played a key role in supporting PTI candidates and leading election campaigns at the district level in Lakki Marwat. However, at that time, he was not given any major position at the central level. In December 2023, an effort was made to understand Sher Afzal Marwat's personality by speaking with his brother and political analysts who closely follow PTI's politics. Below, the same article is being presented again.
Sher Afzal Marwat's brother, Khalid Latif, while speaking to the media about his political background, said: "Their family has been actively involved in politics for a long time, as their father himself participated in local government elections and served as the chairman of the district and tehsil councils." Sher Afzal Marwat's father. Muhammad Azim Khan Begu Khel, was also a member of the peace committee in Lakki Marwat and was killed in January 2012 in a targeted attack by extremists. It is worth mentioning that peace committees comprising local people were formed in the former tribal areas and adjoining cities to counter the activities of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Khalid Khan revealed that before joining PTI, Sher Afzal Marwat was a member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F). Sher Afzal Marwat received his early education in Begu Khel, Lakki Marwat and was later admitted to Wensam College in Dera Ismail Khan, where he completed his FSc. After that, he graduated from Lakki Marwat College. According to his brother, he had been participating in various speech competitions since his school days, held in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, often securing victories in these contests. Khalid Khan further stated: *"He completed his Master’s in History from Peshawar University, followed by another Master’s in Journalism from the same university. During this time, he was also associated with the English newspaper Business Recorder and the Urdu daily "Aaj", published from Peshawar. Meanwhile, he also completed his LLB from Peshawar University and moved towards a legal career." His brother also mentioned that Sher Afzal Marwat passed the CSS exam but did not take up a government job. Later, in 1996, he passed the Judiciary Exam and was appointed as a Sher Afzal Marwat judge Civil Judge. In 2009/10, when Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) was part of the ruling coalition and Rehmatullah Kakar was the Federal Minister for Housing, Sher Afzal Marwat was appointed as the Director General of Housing in Islamabad on deputation. However, he served in this position for only a few months. Later, when Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was reinstated, he ordered all judges and law officers appointed on deputation to return to their original posts. In response, Sher Afzal Marwat resigned from his position. According to Khalid Khan, in 2010, Sher Afzal Marwat moved to England, where he completed a Master’s degree in Law and obtained the Bar-at-Law qualification. After returning to Pakistan, he pursued a career in law. His colleagues have described him as a skilled orator, which contributed to his success in the legal profession, allowing him to establish a strong reputation in Islamabad.
When Sher Afzal Marwat joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he initially focused on supporting the party’s candidates in Lakki Marwat and nearby areas. This was largely due to his strong voter base in Begu Khel, where he had significant local support. In recent months, as cases were filed against PTI leaders, he first represented former Speaker Asad Qaiser and other party members in court. Due to his legal expertise and strong advocacy, he was later appointed as the legal representative for former Prime Minister Imran Khan in several cases. His popularity surged when he got into a heated argument with
PML-N Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan during a talk show. The incident quickly went viral on social media, leading to the widespread circulation of memes about him. In 2023, he was appointed as PTI’s Senior Vice President. During this time, he remained highly active in both the legal and political spheres, frequently appearing in court for PTI leaders' cases. Additionally, through worker conventions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he played a key role in revitalizing the party’s grassroots movement.
Political analysts believe that Sher Afzal Marwat demonstrated strategic acumen and courage in the aftermath of the May 9 events. Senior journalist and Dawn TV’s Islamabad Bureau Chief, Iftikhar Shirazi, stated in December 2023 that “Sher Afzal Marwat was originally part of PTI’s second or third-tier leadership. However, given the current situation where many of PTI’s senior leaders are either facing legal cases or leaving the party, he has stepped forward. People have appreciated his courage and resilience.” He further noted that following May 9, “While most PTI leaders either failed to show such bravery, went into hiding, got arrested, or distanced themselves from the party due to pressure, Sher Afzal defied the odds. He traveled from Islamabad to Nowshera, crossing several obstacles. Similarly, in Bajaur, despite a strong police presence, he managed to outmaneuver law enforcement and reach the convention. His call to workers on social media led to a massive turnout, marking a significant achievement for him.” However, his Mardan convention stirred discontent among local PTI leadership, as they were not consulted beforehand. Subsequently, PTI leader Arbab Sher Ali released a video statement, emphasizing the importance of involving local leadership in such events. He suggested that Provincial President Ali Amin Gandapur should play a more active role in coordinating conventions at the provincial level. In the past, various allegations were made against Sher Afzal Marwat on social media, suggesting that he might be acting with the support of the establishment. However, analysts have largely dismissed these claims. Iftikhar Shirazi stated that when it comes to legal representation, Imran Khan and PTI’s legal cases are being handled by multiple lawyers, with Sher Afzal Marwat being one of them. He has represented Imran Khan in some cases and has also met him in jail. Additionally, Shirazi pointed out that Sher Afzal Marwat effectively utilized media, and, beyond that, his unique style gained significant traction on social media. This helped him mobilize a large number of people, making him a prominent figure in PTI's political landscape.
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