Shah Mahmood to ‘lead PTI’ if Imran Khan gets disqualified

The provided text discusses various statements made by Imran Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, during a meeting with journalists and lawyers. Here are the key points:

1. Imran Khan stated that if he is disqualified by a court, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the PTI Vice Chairman, would lead the party.
2. Imran Khan has been facing multiple cases, including corruption and terrorism, since being ousted from power in April the previous year.
3. He was briefly arrested on May 9 in a case related to the Al-Qadir Trust, but he was released after the Supreme Court declared his arrest illegal.
4. Imran Khan expressed confidence that the situation, which involved a mass departure of leaders from his party and violent protests, would soon change. He mentioned that he would give a big surprise in the coming days.
5. He claimed that some party leaders left the party under compulsion, while others were exposed.
6. Imran Khan emphasized that the youth is a major asset for the PTI party, and winning the next general elections is still possible despite the desertions of party leaders.
7. He suggested holding a referendum to gauge the popularity of his party among the masses.
8. Imran Khan stated that Arif Alvi, the PTI-backed president, would continue working according to the Constitution amid rumors of his resignation.
9. He alleged that there was a conspiracy to arrest, disqualify, and even assassinate him.
10. Imran Khan denied allegations of directing his party workers to attack military installations, stating that he never issued instructions for violence and vandalism. He also mentioned that he had no quarrel with the military.
11. He criticized the coalition government, blaming it for “destroying” the country’s economy, and reiterated that the only solution to the prevailing crisis is through elections.