Imran takes up reins of PTI ahead of protest

Becomes patron-in-chief of embattled party

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ISLAMABAD:

PTI founder Imran Khan, while announcing that the door for talks with the powerful stakeholders was still open, declared on Tuesday that a nationwide protest movement was now the party's only remaining option.

While taking back full control of party affairs by becoming PTI's patron-in-chief, the former premier said that he would lead a nationwide protest movement from prison, declaring it the party's only remaining path after allegedly being shut out of political and legal avenues.

The new patron-in-chief named Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, to coordinate the protest campaign, apparently sidelining Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who previously used to handle such responsibilities.

The PTI supremo gave no timeline for the protest movement but said it would not be limited to Islamabad this time around. Khan once again clarified that his willingness to negotiate was only in Pakistan's broader interest, not for any personal relief.

The announcements came through PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who met Khan at Adiala Jail during proceedings of the Toshakhana II case.

Speaking to the media afterwards, PTI chairman said Khan believes that "all doors have been closed" on PTI and that a peaceful countrywide protest was now the only path forward.

According to Gohar, Khan made it clear that he would head the protest movement himself, issuing all instructions through the NA opposition leader.

Importantly, Gohar confirmed that this time the communication pertaining to the protest would not rely on Gandapur, who had previously been tasked with organising and leading such events.

"For Ali Amin Khan Sahib," he said the instructions right now are: 'concentrate on the province and governance."

"Different responsibilities will be assigned to different individuals," Gohar said, stressing that Khan has full trust in the party leadership and recognises the sacrifices made by many within the party ranks.

In response to a question, he clarified that no date or time frame for the protest movement has been disclosed yet, saying Khan would determine the timing himself.

To another question, Gohar confirmed that Khan has assumed the role of PTI's patron-in-chief, effectively reasserting full control over party decision-making.

"From now on, all key decisions will be taken by the PTI founder," Gohar said, reiterating that he was the one who used to take all decisions before as well. "He was, is and will remain the leader forever," he said.

Dismissing rumours about his own removal, Gohar insisted he remains the legitimate party chairman as long as Khan decides so, saying Khan was, is and will always remain the party supremo and he was only fulfilling duties until Khan was in jail.

"These are just baseless rumours," he responded to the speculation, adding that some people were spreading rumours about his removal to create confusion.

Gohar stressed that his own preference remains for dialogue over confrontation, saying he has always tried to resolve issues through negotiation and still wanted that.

However, he added that Khan believes "no political path has been left open" for PTI, especially after what he described as alleged rigging in the recent Sambrial by-election on the heels of alleged mandate theft in the general elections.