Omar Ayub quits party post after protest: No reprieve for Imran, Bushra in Iddat case

ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Muhammad Afzal Majoka Thursday rejected the appeals of the PTI founder chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi against their conviction in the Iddat case.

In the 10-page order, the court mentioned that there was no reason to suspend the sentence. The court decreed that the merits could not be discussed during the hearing of applications for suspension of the sentence or release on bail. “The sentence awarded to both the accused is neither short-term nor have they served much of the sentence,” it added.

The judge announced the verdict reserved on Tuesday, with the hearing on the main plea related to the annulment of their conviction set to take place on July 2. Imran and Bushra were handed seven-year jail in February earlier this year after a trial court found their Nikkah to be fraudulent, as Khawar Maneka, Bushra’s ex-husband, moved the court against the couple’s marriage. “There is no ground for suspension of the sentence available to both the petitioners. Accordingly, both the petitions under section 426 Cr.PC are dismissed,” it said.

Following the announcement, PTI workers began protesting outside the district and sessions court and also blocked the road. The protesters included women, who chanted slogans in favour of the PTI founder. Heavy police deployment was also present outside the court. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected what it called ‘the absolutely ridiculous decision of the district and sessions court.

The protesters taunted the party leaders of not launching protest, and warned them of consequences if a protest call was not given.

Reacting to the decision, a PTI spokesperson said it was a gross miscarriage of justice and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) would be moved against it. He termed the decision sheer injustice and a blatant disregard for justice. The spokesperson lamented that Pakistan was completely under fascist rule. The spokesperson said the petitioner and the prosecution used absurd tactics and tricks.

He also denounced the joint investigation team’s (JIT) decision declaring the PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi guilty in seven cases, including terrorism and May 9 riots. He said Qureshi was being punished for supporting Imran Khan and his agenda of ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’. He termed the JIT a facilitator of law and justice’s murder and said like Imran Khan, Qureshi too was being subjected to the worst political revenge, state oppression and fascism.

The PTI spokesperson said the entire administrative machinery, especially the police and bureaucracy, was being used to target Imran Khan and his associates with injustice and clear bias. He further said false, fabricated, baseless, and absurd cases were not only targeting the political workers and leaders but also strangling the entire justice system.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan stepped down as the PTI Secretary General, saying there would be more changes in the party’s organizational structure.

Omar said, “I am most grateful to PM Imran Khan sahib for accepting my resignation as Secretary General PTI to focus on my role as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan”. “I had tendered my resignation on 22nd June 2024 through my resignation letter addressed to PM Imran Khan sahib and Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan sahib,” he said in a message posted on his X account Thursday night. He wrote on his account that Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator Shibli Faraz had conveyed his message to PM Imran Khan during their meeting in the jail. “There will be further changes in the organisational structure of PTI in the coming days as directed by PM Imran Khan sahib,” he said. He expressed gratitude to all those who worked ‘tirelessly and braved tremendous hardships for (PM) Imran Khan.

Reacting to Omar Ayub’s resignation, party’s disgruntled leader Sher Afzal Marwat called for Senator Shibli Faraz to also resign from his positions.

“I welcome Omar Ayub Khan’s wise decision to step down as secretary general,” Marwat said in post on X. He urged other party leaders to follow Omar, citing the party’s failure to achieve any significant objectives. “Imran Khan is in jail, and the mandate recovery is still distant,” he remarked.

However, some in the party saw this development as a result of the ongoing tug-of-war inside PTI. Power politics within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf threatens its unity inside and outside the Parliament. Those left out or not consulted for PTI’s parliamentary party posts, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet and the composition of the core and political committees have been mainly blamed for this situation, insiders say.

For instance, within a few days after the PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced Sher Afzal Marwat as the PAC chairman, it was reported that Hamid Raza would be the nominee. This did not stop there. To the surprise of many, Latif Khosa was quoted as saying that Senator Hamid Khan would be named for the PAC top post. However, finally, the name of Sheikh Waqas Akram was announced. Marwat was also issued a show-cause notice for his ‘controversial’ statements and the political committee of PTI was asked by Imran to suggest action against him. However, no action has been taken so far. Marwat has also decided not to speak to the media about the party matters.

The latest development, according to the party’s insiders is that a vocal MNA and ex-minister Sheharyar Afridi has hinted at resigning from the National Assembly if the party’s state of affairs were not handled properly. His announcement paved the way for several others to vent their anger as well. Reportedly, there are at least 27 legislators who have supported Afridi’s viewpoint and also indicated that they will either step down or form a group in the party. Several members, including Sher Afzal Marwat and Shandana Gulzar, have also protested over the incompetence of the party leadership.

The annoyed party members also complained that the parliamentary leaders in the Senate and the senior leadership in the National Assembly had compromised the campaign for Imran’s release over membership of the committees. They have similarly accused other leaders of trying for leadership positions.