Imran Khan’s ‘handpicked Barrister Gohar’ to contest for PTI chairmanship. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice-President Sher Afzal Marwat has confirmed that Barrister Gohar Khan will be the party’s candidate for the chairmanship.
This announcement comes just hours after PTI Chairman Imran Khan decided against retaining the top post due to legal hurdles, leading the party towards internal polls.
Marwat made the revelation during an interview with a private news channel, shedding light on Imran Khan’s decision to endorse Gohar Khan for the chairmanship.
Imran, currently behind bars in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail and entangled in legal battles, faces disqualification as a parliamentarian for five years in the Toshakhana case.
The decision to field Barrister Gohar Khan marks the end of Imran Khan’s tenure at the key position, a role he has held since the party’s formation over two decades ago.
The PTI’s Core Committee, on Monday, formally approved the holding of intra-party polls within the 20-day timeframe set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Failure to comply with the ECP’s orders would result in the party losing its bat symbol.
The unexpected move by Imran Khan not to contest the intra-party elections had been confirmed by several party leaders, who initially claimed that the final candidate would be announced later.
The PTI had strongly refuted speculations about Imran stepping down from his position in a statement, emphasizing ongoing discussions on crucial issues related to the intra-party elections.
Barrister Gohar Khan, according to information available on the PTI leader’s website, is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with a background in law from Wolverhampton University, UK, and an LLM from Washington School of Law, USA.
He has an extensive legal practice with over 50 reported judgments covering various areas such as taxation, commercial law, corporate law, arbitration, banking, and election law.
Gohar Khan’s legal expertise includes civil and criminal trials, and he has had the honor of appearing before the Supreme Judicial Council, Field General Court Martial, and its Court of Appeal. Notably, his clientele includes both public and private companies, as well as significant individuals, including Imran Khan.
Before joining PTI in July 2022, Gohar Khan was a member of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian and contested elections for the National Assembly in 2008, albeit unsuccessfully.
As Imran Khan’s ‘handpicked Barrister Gohar’ to contest for PTI chairmanship, the selection of Barrister Gohar Khan as the PTI candidate for chairmanship poses a significant development for the party. The challenge ahead will be to secure votes, particularly with Imran Khan remaining behind bars.
