Salman Akram Raja resigns as PTI’s secretary-general

ISLAMABAD: Salman Akram Raja has resigned as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) central secretary-general, saying he now intends to focus on legal matters.

In a statement, the senior lawyer said that last week he had requested party founder Imran Khan, through advocate Ali Bukhari, to relieve him of the position so that he could dedicate himself to legally fight against what he described as “excessive and unjust punishments” being handed down to party members.

His statement came a few hours after an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced PTI leaders Ismail Sila and Omar Ayub to 10 years in prison each.

Kanwal Shauzab, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul were also handed 10-year jail terms.

The court acquitted 34 accused persons, including PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi of all charges.

Raja said, “Imran Khan did not accept my request, for which I remain grateful for his trust.”

پچھلے منگل میں نے علی بخاری ایڈووکیٹ کے ذریعے عمران خان صاحب کو درخواست بھیجی تھی کہ پارٹی ممبران کو بے تحاشہ ناحق سزاؤں کے پیش نظر مجھے سیکرٹری جنرل کے عہدے سے ہٹ کر قانونی معاملات پر توجہ مرکوز کرنے دی جائے۔ خان صاحب نے میری درخواست منظور نہ کی۔ میں انکے اعتماد پر شکر گزار ہوں۔

— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) August 25, 2025

He added that he would formally convey his decision to Imran Khan, while continuing to provide his legal services to the party free of cost.”

This is Raja’s second attempt to leave his position in the party.

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The lawyer-turned politician had tendered his resignation earlier in November 2024, after facing harsh criticism of his leadership.

“I am not a traditional politician, neither a feudal lord nor a mill owner, but my small family stands by me,” he remarked, recalling that he had endured political and personal attacks without regret.

Raja said he had entered the political field on Khan’s instructions to support the struggle for constitutional democracy, and was entrusted with sensitive cases including the cipher trial, the military courts challenge, and the matter of reserved seats.

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“I defended Imran Khan’s constitutional vision at every forum, even as I was implicated in 20 false terrorism cases.”