ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has appointed Arshad Dad the secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Mr Khan, the chairman of the party, promoted Mr Dad from his current office of the additional secretary general of the PTI.

Mr Dad has been associated with the PTI for more than two decades, and is one of the party’s founding members. The office of the secretary general had been lying vacant since December last year following Jehangir Tareen’s resignation after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.

Since Mr Tareen had filed an appeal against the court’s verdict, the party leadership had decided to keep the office vacant until a final decision was made. Last week, the Supreme Court rejected Mr Tareen’s review petition and upheld its previous decision, which saw the seasoned politician banned for life.

The PTI leadership was, therefore, forced to fill the most important office of the party.

However, despite resigning from the office, Mr Tareen was seen attending meetings several times and even participated in the campaign for the party in the July 25 elections.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2018