PESHAWAR: Omar Ayub Khan, Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has resigned from his position “to focus on my role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan”.
“I am most grateful to 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,” he said in a message shared on his official X handle on Thursday. In a letter addressed to the PTI founder, Imran Khan, Ayub expressed gratitude for accepting his resignation. “I sent my resignation to the PTI founder and Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali on 22nd June,” Ayub stated. Senator Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, delivered Ayub’s message to the PTI founder during a meeting at Adiala Jail today.
Following instructions from the PTI founder, further changes in the party’s organisational structure are expected in the coming days.
“I wish to thank all members of the PTI family, parliamentarians, and office holders who have worked tirelessly and courageously for the PTI and its founder,” Ayub added.
Ayub explained his decision by saying, “As the opposition leader, I couldn’t do justice to the role of the party’s Secretary General. Another person should be appointed to the position.” He also resigned from his role as party’s Chairman of the Central Finance Board.
The development came amid reports of rifts within the PTI, with sources indicating that 27 PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers were considering resigning from the National Assembly in protest against the party’s top leadership.
Insiders revealed that 21 of these lawmakers hinted at forming a forward bloc due to the leadership’s failure to secure the release of party founder Imran Khan from jail.
They also “conveyed a message” to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Secretary-General Omar Ayub, urging them to make serious efforts for the release of incarcerated leaders.
The disgruntled MNAs complained that some leaders were eyeing higher posts instead of focusing on securing the release of the PTI founder and other jailed party leaders.
Reacting to 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 key party figures to follow suit, citing the party’s failure to achieve any significant objectives.
“Imran Khan is in jail, and the mandate recovery is still distant,” he remarked. “Our women and leaders are imprisoned, and we have failed to mobilise the public for a great movement.”
Marwat pointed to various failures under the current leadership, including losses related to the party symbol, reserved seats, by-elections, and party reorganisation. He criticised the core committee and political committees for being comprised of favourites, with decisions not made on merit.
“I demand Shibli Faraz resign from both his party office and his position as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate,” Marwat asserted. “Only then will the party be free from the clutches of the mafia.”
He called on party workers to support his demand. “If Shibli is removed, I promise the party will rise to meet the needs of the time. Remaining silent about incompetent people, as we have in the past, will not lead to victory.” –Agencies
