Sher Afzal Marwat, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, alleged on Friday that Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was “removed” as the former ruling party’s chairman due to “unsatisfactory” performance.
His statements came the day after Gohar announced Barrister Ali Zafar as the PTI’s next chairman nominee. The party’s internal elections are slated on March 3.
The previous ruling party’s top position had remained vacant for more than a month after both the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court deemed its intra-party elections illegal and stripped the party of its distinctive bat symbol.
As a result of those elections, Gohar, who had become chairman, no longer led the party.
But, as the party prepares to hold its next elections, it has picked someone other than him.
Marwat told Geo News: “Gohar’s removal as chairman was due to incompetence and poor performance.” Barrister Gohar is a gentleman, however his performance was subpar.”
Responding to a query, the PTI leader stated that Gohar did not match the workers’ expectations. “To run a party office, one has to be active all the time, but this did not happen.”
The party leadership’s response to the election results was unsatisfactory, he added, adding that Gohar should have led the party after the polls
A day prior, Gohar, when introducing the candidacy for the top seat, said: “This time, our candidate for party chairman will be Barrister Ali Zafar and Omar Ayub secretary general.”
He urged everyone to do everything in their ability to ensure Zafar is chosen as the party’s next chairman.
PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan had declared that intra-party votes to elect the chairman, central and provincial organising bodies will take place on February 5, however the party later postponed the elections.
According to the PTI’s new election schedule, candidates desiring to run in intra-party elections can submit their nomination papers on February 23 and 24, with the scrutiny taking place on February 25.
Meanwhile, the final decision on nomination papers will be published on February 27, and voting will take place on March 3 at the party’s central office and provincial secretariats.
