Peshawar (Web Desk): Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected unopposed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) new chairman on Saturday, replacing incarcerated former premier Imran Khan.
Announcing the results, PTI’s Chief Election Commissioner Niazullah Niazi said that that Barrister Gohar was elected unopposed following the intra-party election.
He stated that Umar Ayub Khan has been elected PTI’s central general secretary while Ali Amin Gandapur and Dr Yasmin Rashid were chosen as the party’s provincial presidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, respectively.
Meanwhile, Munir Ahmad Baloch was elected as PTI president Balochistan while Haleem Adil Sheikh was chosen as PTI president Sindh.
The party's central polling centre was set up in Peshawar's Rano Garhi area, overseen by its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Presiding Officer Ali Zaman.
Talking to media after the intra-party elections, Niazullah Niazi said that all the candidates were elected unopposed. The Chief Election Commissioner said that rejected Akbar S. Babar's objection.
It should be noted that rejected the results of intra-party election.
On the other hand, the founding member of the PTI Akbar S. Babar while rejecting the election results, said that he had expressed reservations a day earlier which proved true.
"How did the election take place? The results are in front of everyone, the fundamental rights have been violated by announcing the prepared results," Akbar said, adding that whoever was part of the intra-party election exposed himself.
It is pertinent to mention that the recent development came in line with the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) directives following which the party conducted its intra-party polls today.
Last month, the ECP had annulled Imran Khan-led PTI's intra-party election held in June last year, calling them objectionable, and gave the former ruling party 20 days to hold fresh polls, ortherwise the PTI could lose bat as election symbol.
On November 29, PTI Senator and senior lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar, speaking to newsmen, announced Gohar's name as the party's chair, adding that his position was temporary, as Khan would return as chairman once his disqualification in the wake of the Toshakhana case is overturned.
"With Gohar's nomination, you will realise that this is not a minus-one formula, that this is not a coup. He is Imran Khan sahib's own nominee and is appropriate for the temporary arrangement we are doing," Zafar stated.
He noted that while Imran's Toshakhana sentence has been suspended but a “final decision” had not yet been made.
"All these matters were discussed with Imran in the presence of other lawyers," the PTI's senator said.
Zafar had quoted Imran Khan as saying that he did not want to give the ECP any “excuse” for not giving the party the bat symbol in the upcoming general elections, rejecting the nomination of candidates or for not participating in the election.
"The public is with us. We will win the elections when they happen. I want to take part in the general election. Intra-party polls hold no meaning for me. I want that the Toshkahana case is decided as soon as possible. When it is decided, I will contest intra-party polls as chairman," the PTI leader had quoted the former premier as saying.