Omar Ayub Khan
Omar Ayub Khan, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced his resignation as the party’s secretary-general, stating his intention to focus on his role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan.
On his official X handle, Ayub expressed his gratitude to former Prime Minister Imran Khan for accepting his resignation, emphasizing his commitment to his responsibilities in the National Assembly.
“I am most grateful to [former] 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,” Ayub wrote on Thursday.
Ayub revealed that he had submitted his resignation on June 22, 2024, in a letter addressed to the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
He further mentioned that Senator Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, conveyed his message to Imran Khan during a meeting at Adiala Jail.
“The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Shibli Faraz sahib, conveyed my message to [former] PM Imran Khan sahib today during their meeting in Adiala Jail,” Ayub added.
In his statement, Ayub also indicated that further changes would be made in the PTI’s organizational structure in the coming days under the direction of the party founder. He thanked the PTI family, parliamentarians, and Tanzeem officeholders for their dedication and resilience in supporting Imran Khan and the party.
The unexpected resignation came amid reports of internal discord within PTI. Around 27 lawmakers from the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) were considering resigning from the National Assembly in protest against the party’s top leadership.
According to sources, 21 of these lawmakers hinted at forming a forward bloc due to the leadership’s inability to secure the release of Imran Khan from jail. The disgruntled members expressed frustration that some leaders were more focused on securing higher positions rather than prioritizing the release of the party founder and other incarcerated leaders.
Ayub’s tenure as secretary-general began last year following the resignation of his predecessor, Asad Umar, who left the party and active politics. Umar’s departure was part of a broader exodus of PTI members following the violent protests on May 9, which involved attacks on public and military installations.
Ayub’s resignation coincided with a significant legal setback for PTI. A district and sessions court in Islamabad rejected the appeals by Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, seeking the suspension of their sentences in the unlawful marriage (iddat) case. This decision dashed PTI’s hopes for the release of their leader.
Imran Khan, the deposed prime minister, has been embroiled in numerous legal battles since his removal from office in April 2022 via a no-confidence motion.
He has been in jail since August last year, serving sentences in various cases, including the Toshakhana case. Despite securing relief in other cases, such as the £190 million reference and the Toshakhana case, Khan remains incarcerated due to his conviction in the iddat case.
This sequence of events highlights the ongoing turmoil within PTI and the significant challenges faced by its leadership. As Omar Ayub Khan steps down to focus on his legislative role, the party navigates a complex landscape of legal, political, and organizational issues.
