With its chairman in jail, who will lead Tehreek-e-Insaf?

ISLAMABAD: Following the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman in the Toshakhana case, its Vice Chairman (VC) Shah Mehmood Qureshi is expected to take the helm, in accordance with the party’s constitution.

However, reports suggest that Khan was unwilling to give Qureshi a significant role in the event of his arrest or disqualification until late last evening. The pair’s June 7 meeting at Zaman Park reportedly ended without consensus on crucial political matters.

After the hour-long meeting, Qureshi departed without speaking to the media. Shortly after, it was reported that both leaders had had a harsh trade of words, with the meeting ending without reaching consensus. 

This shift in leadership occurs as the PTI grapples with the fallout from Khan’s arrest and subsequent three-year prison sentence for his involvement in the Toshakhana case. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has further complicated matters for the party by issuing a final notice on August 2 regarding its failure to hold intra-party elections.

Under Section 209(1) of the Election Act, every registered political party must confirm the holding of its intra-party polls to the ECP. Despite extensions to conduct its intra-party elections, the PTI failed to hold them by the revised date of June 13, 2022. 

Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmad, a former PTI member who helped draft the party’s constitution, stated that “if the high court suspends the sessions court’s verdict in the Toshakhana case, Khan will continue to serve as party chairman. However, until then, the ECP will issue a new notice to the vice chairman to assume the chairman’s responsibilities.”

In a statement to Hum News English, PTI spokesman Raoof Hasan said the country is now “heading towards a political crisis.”

Asad Umer, when contacted, could not comment at this moment but insisted that PTI will contest the general elections and believed that the current verdict will not stand in the court of law.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi could not be reached for comments despite numerous attempts by HUM News English.