ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has directed party lawmakers to resign from all standing committees of the Punjab Assembly.
“The PTI holds 14 standing committees in Punjab, and the founder has directed all of them to submit resignations immediately,” he said while talking to the media outside Adila jail after a meeting with Imran Khan.
He rejected reports circulating about major changes within the party, calling them baseless rumours.
Barrister Gohar said, “These are all rumours. Our party is strong, and there is no issue regarding the party chairmanship.”
He said, “Let me make one thing clear — these rumours are being spread by those who believe they have a numerical majority. I want to clarify that even if I resign, our party will effectively cease to exist.”
Gohar further said that there was no issue concerning his chairmanship. “If I resign as party chairman today, the PTI will be left without a party head, and under the Supreme Court’s ruling, the party will stand dissolved,” he said.
He also said that Imran Khan had expressed reservations over law and order and counter-terrorism matters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Ali Amin Gandapur. “The new chief minister is Sohail Afridi, who has been nominated by PTI founder Imran Khan,” he said.
Barrister Gohar quoted Imran Khan as saying that Ali Amin Gandapur was a loyal and strong colleague. “The founder had serious reservations about military operations in the province, saying that no operation can succeed without a political strategy,” he added.
Gohar said, “We have requested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor to accept the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur so that a peaceful transfer of power can take place. There is no forward bloc in our party.”
He clarified that he was not consulted about the change of chief minister. “Many decisions are made without consulting me. The change of chief minister is the founder’s decision, and the party accepts it,” he said.
Earlier, reports had suggested that following the change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s leadership, major reshuffles were expected within PTI, possibly including changes at the central leadership level.
Sources had indicated that both PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram could be replaced.
Barrister Gohar said, “After quite some time, I met the PTI founder today. He is doing well and is in high spirits. The trial in the Toshakhana-II case against him has concluded; final arguments will be held on October 13, and we expect a verdict by Tuesday or Wednesday.”
He said the Toshakhana-II case was the fifth bogus case against Imran Khan. “All these cases are politically motivated, aimed at keeping the PTI founder behind bars,” he said.
According to Gohar, Imran Khan instructed that the transition for the new chief minister should be completed as soon as possible. “Once the new CM assumes charge, the founder will finalise the names of cabinet members,” he said.