Pakistan's jailed Imran Khan names temporary successor for party election

The party needs a new chairman to hold elections scheduled for Saturday, as the former national cricketing hero, being a convict, is barred from taking part

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AP file photo

By Reuters

Published: Wed 29 Nov 2023, 6:02 PM

Jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party said on Wednesday that he had named one of his lawyers as his temporary stand-in to contest the position of party head.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party released a video showing barrister Gohar Khan announcing his nomination.

"I will fill in for Imran Khan," the nominee said, adding that Khan was and will always remain party chief.

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The party needs a new chairman to hold elections scheduled for Saturday — as former national cricketing hero Khan, being a convict, is barred from taking part. During the exercise, the party will elect a new chairman and other office bearers.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week gave the party 20 days to hold the intra-party elections, which are needed for it to keep the cricket bat as its election symbol.

Barrister Ali Zafar, another of Khan's lawyers, said that the replacement was just a babysitting arrangement.

General elections are scheduled for February 8, 2024, with Khan's party facing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party as its main opponent.

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Reuters

Published: Wed 29 Nov 2023, 6:02 PM

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