Sher Afzal Marwat Welcomes Decision to be Expelled from Party, Says He is Sick of Trolls
Sher Afzal Marwat’s Eight-Year Association with PTI Ends for Now on Imran Khan’s Instructions
Islamabad (Web News)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expelled its senior party leader and National Assembly member, Sher Afzal Marwat. A notification issued on Wednesday night, signed by PTI’s Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, stated that Sher Afzal Marwat was issued a show-cause notice before being expelled from the party. According to the notification, 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.
According to BBC’s Azizullah Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, who joined PTI in 2017, has had his nearly eight-year association with the party temporarily ended.
Reacting to the notification on X (formerly Twitter), Sher Afzal Marwat wrote briefly, “Imran Khan was, is, and will always be my leader.”
However, before the issuance of this notification, Sher Afzal Marwat had expressed concerns about his possible expulsion in a post on X. He stated that he had been repeatedly defamed by his own party members.
“If I am expelled, I will welcome the decision because I am sick of the constant trolling. Due to party discipline, I cannot respond appropriately to these conspirators. If loyalty and sacrifices are rewarded in such a disgraceful manner, no loyal person will dare to step forward for PTI and Khan Sahib.”
He further wrote, “These conspirators have caused great damage to the party because they have taken full advantage of Khan Sahib’s tendency to believe in rumors. I have not left Khan Sahib, but if he leaves me, I will never go back to him. End it today. I will show what you have done to Khan Sahib and the party. I have many untold stories for Pakistanis. 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 regulations and making remarks against senior PTI leaders.
During PTI’s previous government, Sher Afzal Marwat was not among the senior leadership. However, after the events of May 9 and their aftermath, he suddenly emerged as a prominent face of the party. He was arrested multiple times and faced several legal cases during this period.
Sher Afzal Marwat is widely regarded as having played a crucial role in mobilizing the party after Imran Khan’s arrest and energizing large numbers of supporters at workers’ conventions. However, his outspoken nature regarding party leaders and policies made him controversial. His heated exchanges and statements against various party leaders frequently made headlines.
Sher Afzal Marwat joined PTI in 2017 and played a key role in supporting PTI candidates in the 2018 elections in Laki Marwat. However, he did not receive any significant position at the central level at that time.
In December 2023, BBC interviewed Sher Afzal Marwat’s brother, Khalid Latif, and analysts familiar with PTI politics to understand his background.
His brother, Khalid Latif, stated that their family had been politically active, as their father participated in local elections and served as chairman of the district and tehsil councils. Sher Afzal’s father, Muhammad Azeem Khan Begu Khel, was also a member of the peace committee in Laki Marwat and was assassinated in a targeted killing by extremists in January 2012.
Khalid Khan mentioned that Sher Afzal Marwat was initially associated with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) before joining PTI.
Sher Afzal Marwat received his early education in his native village, Begu Khel, in Laki Marwat. He then attended Wensam College in Dera Ismail Khan for his FSC, followed by graduation from Laki Marwat College. According to his brother, he actively participated in speech competitions in Laki Marwat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, often securing victories.
He later obtained an MA in History from Peshawar University, followed by an MA in Journalism from the same institution. During this time, he worked for Business Recorder and the Daily Aaj newspaper in Peshawar. He also completed an LLB from Peshawar University and pursued a career in law.
Sher Afzal Marwat passed the CSS exam but chose not to join government service. Instead, he passed the judiciary exam in 1996 and was appointed as a civil judge.
Between 2009 and 2010, when JUI-F was part of the coalition government and Rehmatullah Kakar was the Federal Minister for Housing, Sher Afzal Marwat was appointed Director General of Housing in Islamabad on deputation. However, he served for only a few months.
After Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was reinstated, he ordered all deputation officers to return to their original posts, prompting Sher Afzal Marwat to resign.
In 2010, he moved to England, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Law and a Bar-at-Law qualification before returning to Pakistan to practice law. His legal skills and public speaking abilities earned him a strong reputation in Islamabad’s legal community.
After joining PTI, he initially supported candidates in Laki Marwat and surrounding areas, leveraging his influence among the voters in Begu Khel.
In recent months, as PTI leaders faced legal cases, Sher Afzal Marwat initially represented former Speaker Asad Qaiser and others. Due to his legal expertise, he later began representing Imran Khan in various cases.
His popularity surged after a heated exchange with PML-N Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan on a talk show, which led to viral social media memes.
In 2023, PTI appointed him as a senior vice president. He actively defended PTI leaders in court while also playing a significant political role. His efforts in organizing workers’ conventions revitalized the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Political analysts believe that Sher Afzal Marwat demonstrated courage and strategic acumen in the aftermath of the May 9 events.
Senior journalist and Dawn News Islamabad Bureau Chief Iftikhar Shirazi told BBC in December 2023 that Sher Afzal Marwat was initially a second or third-tier leader. However, given the current circumstances—where many PTI leaders are either facing legal cases or leaving the party—he emerged as a prominent figure. His bravery was well-received by PTI supporters.
Iftikhar Shirazi highlighted that while many PTI leaders either went into hiding, were arrested, or left the party under pressure after May 9, Sher Afzal Marwat managed to evade security barriers and reach Nowshera from Islamabad. Similarly, in Bajaur, he and his supporters successfully bypassed police to hold a convention. His ability to mobilize workers through social media was a significant achievement.
However, his arrival in Mardan for a convention without consulting local leadership led to resentment. PTI leader Arbab Sher Ali later clarified in a video message that local leadership should be taken into confidence for such events, and provincial president Ali Amin Gandapur was urged to mediate.
Social media has previously circulated various allegations against Sher Afzal Marwat, claiming he acted with the establishment’s backing. However, analysts do not support this view.
Iftikhar Shirazi noted that Sher Afzal Marwat was among several lawyers handling PTI’s legal cases, including those involving Imran Khan. His meetings with Khan in jail further solidified his position in the party.
Additionally, his effective media engagement and distinct style resonated with social media audiences, helping him draw significant crowds to PTI’s events.