ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday nominated Shibli Faraz as the new opposition leader in the Senate, and Mr Faraz is set to take the role with the endorsement of 21 senators.

The announcement came after a meeting of Mr Faraz and other leaders with Mr Khan in Adiala Jail. “Today I met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, where he confirmed my nomination,” Mr Faraz told Dawn, adding that the Senate chairman was expected to formally recognise his position once the senators’ signatures were verified.

Sahibzada Hamid Raza, chairman of PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council, who also met Mr Khan, said the former prime minister categorically denied that Saudi Arabia had any role in the “regime change conspiracy”, a reference to Mr Khan’s April 2022 ouster.

The clarification came days after PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat accused both the United States and Saudi Arabia of conspiring to topple the PTI government, stirring tensions amid a critical visit from a high-level Saudi delegation to Pakistan.

Imran insists Saudi Arabia had no role in ‘regime change conspiracy’

A day later, the party publicly distanced itself from Mr Marwat’s comments and its leaders emphasised their respect for Saudi Arabia.

Another PTI leader, Muzzam­mil Aslam, quoted Imran Khan as saying that Saudi Arabia gave $2 billion just four months before the toppling of the PTI government. “Imran Khan also said that the foreign minister’s conference (held during PTI’s tenure) couldn’t have been organised without the role of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that a more aggressive media policy would be pursued and initial steps would be taken within a week.

“It’s the final phase of our campaign, and soon, all institutions will start giving positive signals. Soon, Imran Khan will become the prime minister of Pakistan,” he said.

The PTI has also initiated a nationwide organisational effort to strengthen the party at grassroots level. In this regard, senior PTI lea­der Advocate Shoaib Shaheen has been assigned the responsibility of forming ‘block code-level organisations’ across Pakistan.

PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan has notified Mr Shaheen to oversee the formation and function of the organisational structure of the party.

The party has also raised concerns over the health of Mr Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, alleging that her health has significantly worsened due to the substandard conditions and food provided during her imprisonment. The PTI clai­­ms her rights to necessary medical care are being obstructed.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2024