ISLAMABAD – With the announcement of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s candidacy for the party’s temporary chairman position in the intra-party elections on Wednesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) put an end to rumors.
The party declared that Saturday, December 2, would be the date of the crucial intra-party elections.
Speaking at a news conference outside the Islamabad headquarters of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Barrister Ali Zafar announced that the party elections will take place on December 2. Although the party had some concerns with the ECP ruling, he indicated that polls will still take place on Saturday. He said that the party will subsequently contest the commission’s ruling.
He claimed that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s appointment as interim chairman received the approval of the PTI chairman. According to him, the PTI chairman would not participate in intra-party elections at this time as the party did not want to take any chances.
The phrase “minus-one formula” alludes to the PTI chief’s removal from the electoral process, which he refuted.
Without its head, he continued, the PTI stands nothing. Only the Toshakhana case, he claimed, has been resolved thus far. He said that the PTI chief’s sentencing was unlawful and unconstitutional.
He stated that in 2021 and 2022, the PTI conducted elections within the party. When its legal team first met with the ECP authorities, they brought papers pertaining to the 2021 and 2022 elections.
In a brief media interview, Barrister Gohar stated that the PTI leader was, is, and would continue to serve as the party’s chairman, perhaps suggesting that Gohar’s entry into the contest was only a temporary measure.