In a surprising turn of events, Omar Ayub Khan, the Secretary-General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has resigned from his position to focus on his role as the Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly.
Ayub expressed gratitude to former Prime Minister Imran Khan for accepting his resignation, which he submitted on June 22, 2024. He sent his resignation letter to Imran Khan, who is currently in jail, and to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. Senator Shibli Faraz, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, conveyed Ayub’s message to Imran Khan during their meeting at Adyala Jail.
Ayub mentioned that further changes in PTI’s organizational structure will be made as per the directions of the party’s founder. He thanked all PTI members, parliamentarians, and office-holders who have supported Imran Khan and PTI through challenging times.
This development comes amid reports of internal divisions within PTI. According to Geo News sources, 27 lawmakers from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), backed by PTI, discussed the possibility of resigning from the National Assembly. They expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership’s handling of Imran Khan’s imprisonment and urged efforts for his release.
Ayub took over as PTI’s secretary-general last year after Asad Umar resigned from politics. His resignation coincided with a court decision in Islamabad rejecting Imran Khan and his wife’s pleas for the suspension of their sentences. Imran Khan has been in jail since August last year on various charges following his removal as prime minister through a no-confidence motion in April 2022.