PTI goes against Imran’s decision

Wants founder to take a U-turn on Omar’s resignation

ISLAMABAD:

The parliamentary party of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed on Friday disagreement over PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan’s decision to accept the resignation of PTI’s secretary general Omar Ayub Khan, urging him to take a U-turn on his decision and reappoint Omar on the post.

The party’s parliamentary faction’s demand has come within 24 hours after the incarcerated PTI founding chairman endorsed the decision of Omar, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, to step down from his party position.

Confusion prevails within PTI ranks over Omar’s resignation amid reports of rifts in PTI. On one hand, the party announced that it would take out rallies for the release of the party supremo while, on the other hand, the secretary general left the key party position so that he could focus on parliamentary affairs.

In its meeting held on June 28 at Parliament House, “the Parliamentary Party unanimously expresses complete confidence in Omar Ayub Khan as Secretary General of PTI.”

An official statement said that the “Parliamentary Party unanimously resolves that his resignation may not be accepted and he may be directed to continue as Secretary General of the party.”

In addition, it maintained, “Parliamentary party strongly condemns media reports about a so-called “Forward Bloc” and marks that there is no “Forward Bloc” within the parliamentary party or the party, and all are united under the leadership of the Founding and Chairman for life, Imran Khan.”

Late on Thursday night, Omar resigned from his position to focus on his role as opposition leader. In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Omar stated: “I am most grateful to PM Imran Khan sahib for accepting my resignation as Secretary General PTI to focus on my role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan.”

In a letter addressed to Imran, Omar expressed gratitude for accepting his resignation. “I sent my resignation to the PTI founder and Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali on 22nd June,” Ayub stated. It was reported that Senator Shibli Faraz, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, delivered Omar’s message to Imran during a meeting at Adiala Jail on June 27.

Omar’s resignation came amid reports of rifts within the PTI, with sources indicating that several PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers were considering resigning from the National Assembly in protest against the party’s top leadership.

The speculations about the forward bloc stem from reports that attribute to sources saying that almost two dozen of these lawmakers hinted at forming a forward bloc due to the leadership’s failure to secure the release of Imran Khan from jail.