Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Omar Ayub Khan has announced that he has resigned as the party's secretary-general in order to focus on his role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
"I am most grateful to (former) PM Imran Khan sahib for accepting my resignation as Secretary General PTI to focus on my role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan," he tweeted on his official X account.
Ayub said that he resigned on June 22, 2024, via a letter delivered to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan sahib.
"Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Shibli Faraz sahib conveyed my message to [former] PM Imran Khan sahib today during their meeting in Adyala Jail," he stated.
The NA opposition leader also said that additional changes to the PTI's organizational structure will be implemented in the days to come based on the party founder's instructions.
"I want to thank all members of the PTI family, Parliamentarians, and Tanzeem Office Holders who have worked tirelessly and braved tremendous hardships for [former] PM Imran Khan sahib and PTI."
As per media reports, PTI-backed 27 Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers considered resigning from the National Assembly in protest against the party's leadership. According to sources, 21 of the 27 lawmakers have hinted about establishing a forward bloc in response to the top leadership's failure to achieve the release of party founder Imran Khan from jail.
They also "conveyed a message" to PTI chairman Barrister Gohar and Secretary-General Omar Ayub, urging them to make genuine efforts to liberate jailed leaders.
Disgruntled MNAs argued that certain leaders were focused on higher-level positions rather than the release of the PTI founder and party leaders.