Last Update: May 28, 2023, 09:19 AM IST
File photo of Shah Mehmood Qureshi. (Image: Twitter)
Shah Mehmood Qureshi was arrested on Tuesday along with several PTI leaders in a crackdown against Imran Khan’s party PTI.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the party in case of his disqualification by the court.
“If I am disqualified, Shah Mehmood Qureshi will run the party,” Khan told reporters at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Saturday, according to Geo TV.
The statement comes at a time when the PTI chief is facing over 100 cases on various charges including corruption and terrorism since he was ousted from power in April last year.
Imran was arrested earlier this month in pursuance of an arrest warrant of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by Pakistani Rangers personnel in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested on Tuesday along with several PTI leaders in a crackdown against Imran Khan’s party.
More than 70 lawyers and party leaders have severed ties with PTI after the May 9 devastation. Top PTI leaders – including the party’s general secretary Asad Umar, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari – have resigned.
Reacting to the mass farewell of party leaders, the PTI chief said, “I will give a big surprise in the days to come.”
The exodus of PTI leaders began when security forces launched a crackdown against the party following attacks on civilian and military institutions.
Khan, however, said that some PTI leaders were leaving the party under compulsion, while others have been exposed.
Amid rumors of resignation of PTI-backed President Arif Alvi, Khan said the President will continue to function according to the Constitution.
Pakistan has been witnessing a political crisis since the jailing of Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9, following which paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises, triggering violent protests. happened.
Activists of his party vandalized a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali Airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad, in response to Khan’s arrest.
The mob also stormed the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time.
