Imran Khan was released after the Supreme Court declared his arrest illegal. (File)
Islamabad:
Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi would lead the party in the event of Khan’s disqualification by a court, Pakistan-based Geo News reported.
Speaking to journalists and lawyers at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Saturday, Imran Khan said: “If I am disqualified, Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead the party.”
The statement comes as the PTI chief has dealt with a slew of cases ranging from corruption to terrorism since he was removed from power last April, according to Geo News.
Imran Khan was arrested on May 9 in a £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case by Rangers personnel in accordance with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrest warrants.
The PTI chief was released after the Supreme Court declared his arrest illegal.
Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 sparked violent protests across the country, with supporters across the country looting and burning defense and public installations.
Then, the powerful National Security Committee (NSC), made up of top civilian and military leaders, vowed to try rioters under relevant laws, including the Army Act, according to Geo News.
While commenting on the mass departure of leaders from his party over the May 9 vandalism, Khan said the situation will soon change.
“I’ll be in for a big surprise in the next few days,” he added.
Imran Khan said some party leaders were forced to leave the party, while some had been exposed.
Khan called the youth a key asset of his party, said the party ticket was their right and added that PTI will win the next general election despite party leadership desertions, Geo News reported.
He also called for a referendum to be held to gauge his party’s popularity with the masses.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
