Zafar says he wont run for PTI chief post

ISLAMABAD: Advocate Syed Ali Zafar has withdrawn his name to contest for the office of the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI).

The PTI has announced to hold the intraparty election on March 3, and Zafar’s name had been given by party leaders for the slot with the approval of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.

Zafar said he feels he cannot be the chairman of the party while continuing his work to ensure Imran is released from jail through courts.

“I feel professionally that while I am trying to get Imran out of jail, if I become the chairman of the party there is a potential conflict. That conflict is that my interest as chairman could be to keep him in jail so my chairmanship could go on. And I do not want to get into such a conflict of interest. Professionally, I think it is not right,” he said and added that Imran has accepted his recusal.

Ater his nomination by some PTI leaders particularly Gohar Ali Khan, Zafar had stated that he was too busy in fighting Imran Khan’s cases and if he finally refused to accept the party position, Gohar Ali Khan would be proposed for the top party office.

Subsequently another PTI leader lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat claimed that Gohar Ali Khan was earlier “removed as the party chairman over his unsatisfactory performance.”

“Incompetence and poor performance are the reasons behind his removal as chairman. Gohar Ali Khan is a gentleman but his performance was not satisfactory, especially following the Feb.8 election with regard to rigging.”

Marwat had also stated that Gohar Ali Khan had failed to live up to the party and its workers’ expectations, as to run a party office, one had to be active all the time, but this was not the case.

The PTI was deeply irked by Marwat’s remarks and issued him a showcause notice asking him to apologise within two days or face further action.

Sensing a great trouble, Marwat rushed to Gohar Ali Khan and patched up with him in a bid to bring an end to the row.