Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has chosen not to participate in the upcoming intra-party elections for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman. Instead, he has nominated Barrister Gohar Khan to represent the party in the leadership role for the approaching general elections, as revealed by a senior PTI leader on Wednesday.
Imran Khan will abstain from the scheduled intra-party polls on December 2, with Barrister Gohar Khan now positioned as the nominee for the party chairman role, as reported by Dawn newspaper.
"Imran Khan was, is, and will continue to be the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf... I will carry out my responsibility till Mr. Khan returns," stated Gohar Khan.
Imran Khan, the 71-year-old former prime minister and ex-cricket star, currently remains behind bars in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, entangled in several legal battles. Since his ousting from power after losing a no-confidence vote in 2022, Khan has faced a slew of charges.
In the latest development, a Pakistani court has ordered a public trial in Khan's cypher case. This decision allows journalists and supporters of Imran Khan to attend the trial, which will be conducted within the prison due to authorities deeming it too dangerous for him to appear in a regular courtroom.
Who is Barrister Gohar Khan?
Gohar Khan is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with a presence in all high courts. He holds a law degree from Wolverhampton University, UK, and an LLM from Washington School of Law, USA.
Known for his active law practice, Gohar boasts more than 50 reported judgments covering various subjects such as taxation, commercial law, corporate matters, arbitration, banking, and election law.
Prior to joining PTI, Gohar Khan was a member of the Pakistan People’s Party. In 2008, he contested elections for the National Assembly under their banner but was unsuccessful. He later aligned himself with PTI in July 2022.
