PTI intra-party polls: Imran wants Barrister Gohar as PTI chairman

ISLAMABAD: The jailed PTI top leader Imran Khan is said to have suggested to the party core committee to nominate Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as chairman PTI in the upcoming intra-party elections.

Barrister Gohar, however, when approached by this correspondent, neither confirmed it nor denied it.

“I will not confirm this,” he said. When asked if he does not confirm it, will he deny it, he said, “No”, and suggested to wait for a day.

Gohar, however, later told Geo News no decision has been taken about the candidature of chairman PTI. He said the decision about the new chairman will be taken on Friday.

Shoaib Shaheen, PTI spokesman, is also reported by the Geo News to have said no decision has been taken as yet who will be the candidate for the office of chairman PTI.

Barrister Gohar met chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday in Adiala jail. Some other PTI lawyers also met Imran.

Senior vice president of the PTI Sher Afzal Khan Marwat told the media after meeting Imran Khan in Adiala Jail on Tuesday the incumbent chairman will not take part in the intra-party elections because of his conviction in Toushakhana case.

Interestingly, the PTI through its official twitter handle denied what Marwat told the media and said no decision has been taken that Imran Khan will not take part in the intra-party elections. The PTI said there is also no nomination of any other person as Imran Khan’s replacement.

The PTI said when the decisions regarding party elections, candidates and date of intra-party polls will be taken, it will be announced accordingly.

According to a PTI source, Imran Khan wants nomination of Barrister Gohar Khan as chairman PTI. Imran’s conviction in Toushakhana case makes him ineligible to take part in the intra-party elections or continue as chairman PTI.

Only recently, the PTI’s core committee decided Imran Khan will continue to be the chairman of the party. But, PTI’s legal minds have told Imran he cannot be elected as party’s chairman because of his conviction in Toushakhana case.

A member of PTI’s core committee, senior party leader and ex-cabinet member of Imran government when approached said the committee has not yet been conveyed Imran Khan’s message about Barrister Gohar’s nomination as chairman PTI. He, on condition of not being named, expressed his surprise over Imran Khan’s recommendation for the slot of chairman PTI.

He said Barrister Gohar is neither a politician nor senior enough to be appointed as chairman PTI even as a makeshift arrangement till acquittal of Imran Khan in Toushakhana case.

On November 23, the Election Commission ordered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to hold intra-party elections within 20 days. However, the bat would remain the election symbol of the party, the ECP said in its decision on the PTI’s intra-party election that was reserved on September 13. The Election Commission had taken notice of the PTI’s intra-party elections. The PTI had submitted details of its party elections on June 8 last year. “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has failed to hold transparent intra-party elections”, the electoral body said in its verdict. An ECP panel, headed by Commission member Nisar Durrani, had announced the decision. The Election Commission had issued a notice to the party with regard to the party’s internal restructuring and intra-party elections.