PTI rejects Omar Ayub’s resignation

To move contempt plea over Tarnol rally cancellation

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, following directives from founding chairman Imran Khan, announced that Omar Ayub Khan’s resignation as central secretary general has been rejected.

Omar Ayub Khan has been instructed to continue his duties as central secretary general, with the PTI parliamentary party and core committee expressing full confidence in his leadership.

Both bodies unanimously passed resolutions urging Imran Khan and Gohar Ali Khan not to accept Ayub’s resignation.

Imran Khan praised Ayub’s contributions and sacrifices for the party, acknowledging his significant role in PTI’s operations.

Last month, the PTI parliamentary faction disagreed with Imran Khan’s initial decision to accept Ayub’s resignation, urging a reversal and reappointment of Ayub to his position. This demand came within 24 hours of the imprisoned PTI founder endorsing Ayub’s decision to step down, a move that also saw Ayub leading the opposition in the National Assembly.

Amid reports of internal rifts and confusion within PTI, Ayub’s resignation added to the uncertainty. While the party planned rallies for Imran Khan’s release, Ayub’s departure from his key party role was intended to allow him to focus on parliamentary affairs.

Tarnol rally

Caught off guard by an unexpected setback to its power demonstration, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was compelled on Saturday to cancel its rally, while denouncing it as contempt of court.

The PTI postponed its rally, set to be held in Islamabad’s Tarnol at 6pm on Saturday, after the district administration cancelled the no-objection certificate issued to the party, prompting it to file a contempt of court petition.

In a joint press conference with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Ayub announced the party’s decision to postpone the rally. “God willing […] we will organise it legally after Ashura,” he stated.

Barrister Gohar stated that PTI workers were eager to participate, while Asad Qaiser accused the authorities of following the orders of the gun, not the law.

The PTI chairman reminded the media that the rally had been planned for four months, and a series of writ petitions led to the court ordering the deputy commissioner to issue the NOC.

Gohar criticised the abrupt suspension of the NOC, asserting that such actions undermined the rule of law.

During the media briefing, Asad Qaiser questioned whether the country would be run according to the law and constitution or turn into a “banana republic.” He asserted that the orders being followed were “those of the gun, not the law”.

Omar Ayub also expressed disappointment over the rally’s cancellation and called on the DC Islamabad to explain who was influencing their decisions.

PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen rued the decision and said the administration had initially granted permission for a rally in Rawat before approving the Tarnol location.

PTI leaders urged the court to hear their contempt petition promptly, arguing that the administration’s actions constituted contempt of court by suspending the NOC despite judicial orders. They also called for orders to prevent the alleged harassment of PTI workers.