In a significant internal shake-up, Pakistan's incarcerated former Prime Minister and founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has dissolved his party's political committee. The unprecedented decision, announced on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, marks his first major political move after being incommunicado for several weeks.
Decree From Behind Bars
The announcement was made via a post on Khan's official social media account, which is managed by his aides as he remains imprisoned at Adiala jail following convictions in corruption cases. The post stated that the existing political committee was being dissolved and would be replaced by a smaller body. Salman Akram Raja, the party's Secretary General, has been entrusted with full authority to reconstitute this new committee and formulate a political strategy.
The post further directed that Shahid Khattak be appointed as the parliamentary leader in the National Assembly. This drastic step is reported to have been taken amid growing internal disagreements within the opposition party.
Reasons Behind the Dissolution
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser provided insight into the reasoning behind the dissolution. According to him, one of the primary catalysts was the persistent leaking of the committee's confidential decisions to the public. Qaiser revealed that the proposal to disband the committee had been under consideration for some time and had been floated on several occasions prior to the final decision.
The move underscores the challenges faced by the party in maintaining cohesion and secrecy in its strategic planning while its top leadership is behind bars. The formation of a smaller committee is likely an attempt to streamline decision-making and plug information leaks.
Family's Concerns Over Khan's Well-being
This political development unfolds against a backdrop of heightened concern from Khan's family regarding his condition in prison. Earlier, after weeks of effort, his sister Uzma Khanum was able to meet him at Adiala jail. While she stated that Khan's physical health was "perfectly fine," she reported that he was very angry and alleged that he was being subjected to "mental torture."
These concerns were echoed by Khan's son, Kasim Khan, who on Monday expressed fears that authorities might be concealing "something irreversible" about his father's condition. He described the inability to know his father's status as a form of psychological torture. The family's allegations come despite court orders permitting them meetings, which they claim have been obstructed for weeks.
The situation had earlier prompted PTI supporters to stage massive protests, demanding information on Khan's whereabouts. Supporters gathered outside the Islamabad High Court, defying Section 144, which prohibits public gatherings. Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 after being found guilty on corruption charges.
