Omar Ayub
{{short description|Pakistani politician (born 1970)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix =
| name = Omar Ayub
| native_name = {{Nobold|{{nq|عمر ایوب}}}}
| image = Omar Ayub Khan in National Assembly.jpg
| office = Leader of the Opposition (Pakistan)
| order = 12th
| term_start = 2 April 2024
| term_end =
| president = Asif Ali Zardari
| primeminister = Shehbaz Sharif
| preceded = Raja Riaz
| office1 = Federal Minister for Economic Affairs
| term_start1 = 17 April 2021
| term_end1 = 10 April 2022
| president1 = Arif Alvi
| primeminister1 = Imran Khan
| preceded1 = Khusro Bakhtiar
| succeeded1 =
| office2 = Federal Minister for Petroleum
| term_start2 = 18 April 2019
| term_end2 = 17 April 2021
| president2 = Arif Alvi
| primeminister2 = Imran Khan
| preceded2 = Ghulam Sarwar Khan
| succeeded2 = Hammad Azhar
| office3 = Federal Minister for Power
| term_start3 = 11 September 2018
| term_end3 = 17 April 2021
| preceded3 = Awais Leghari
| succeeded3 = Hammad Azhar
| president3 = Arif Alvi
| primeminister3 = Imran Khan
| office4 = Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
| term_start4 = 29 February 2024
| term_end4 =
| constituency4 = NA-18 Haripur
| term_start5 = 13 August 2018
| term_end5 = 17 January 2023
| constituency5 = NA-17 (Haripur)
| term_start6 = January 2014
| term_end6 = June 2015
| constituency6 = NA-19 (Haripur)
| term_start7 = 2002
| term_end7 = 2007
| constituency7 = NA-19 (Haripur)
| father = Gohar Ayub Khan
| relatives = Ayub Khan (grandfather)
Yousuf Ayub Khan (cousin)
Arshad Ayub Khan (cousin)
Akbar Ayub Khan (cousin)
| party = PTI (2018–present)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|1|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| otherparty = PMLN (2012–2018)
PPML (2009–2012)
PML-Q (2001–2009)
PMLN (1993–2001)
| predecessor3 = Awais Leghari (Federal Minister)
Abid Sher Ali (State Minister)
}}
Omar Ayub Khan ({{langx|ur|{{nq|عمر ایوب خان}}}}; born 26 January 1970) is a Pakistani politician who is currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition. He was the last Federal Minister for Economic Affairs under the Prime Ministership of Imran Khan from April 2021 until April 2022.[https://dailytimes.com.pk/746504/imran-appoints-new-team-to-fix-economy/ Pakistan Daily Times:April 17, 2021: Imran appoints new team to fix economy] He previously served as Federal Minister for Energy from 11 September 2018 to 16 April 2021. He had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till January 2023. He is the grandson of the former President of Pakistan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan and the son of Gohar Ayub Khan, who was also a politician. Previously, he served as a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2014 to 2015. He also served as the Minister of State for Finance in the federal cabinet from 2004 to 2007. He has served as Secretary General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf since he assumed the role on 27 May 2023. He resigned from the position on 4 September 2024 and his resignation was accepted by Imran Khan on 7 September.{{Cite web |last=Momand |first=Abdullah |date=2024-09-07 |title=Omar Ayub says Imran has accepted his resignation as PTI secretary general |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1857541 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
Early life and education
Khan was born on 26 January 1970{{cite news|title=Educational background of state ministers|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/369652|access-date=9 August 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=6 September 2004|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810092608/https://www.dawn.com/news/369652|archive-date=10 August 2017}} to Gohar Ayub Khan, a politician and retired army officer belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League (N). He is the grandson of dictator Ayub Khan, former Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army who was a self-appointed President of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969.{{Cite web |title=What has history taught Pakistan about treason trials and traitors? |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/416082-what-has-history-taught-pakistan-about-treason-trials-and-traitors |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=www.geo.tv |language=en}}
He obtained his early education at Army Burn Hall College and completed his high schooling at Aitchison College.{{cite web |title=Profile of Omar Ayub Khan |url=https://www.ead.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/SPKEYNOTE.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Economic Affairs |access-date=27 April 2024}} In 1989, he moved to the United States for higher studies, and the next year he took a semester off to help his father run the election campaign, which became his introduction to politics. In 1993, he completed his BBA, followed by his MBA in 1996, both from the George Washington University.
Political career
= Pakistan Muslim League (Q) =
He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Constituency NA-19 (Haripur) as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) in 2002 Pakistani general election. He received 81,496 votes and defeated Pir Sabir Shah.{{cite web|title=2002 election result|url=https://www.ecp.gov.pk/ge/ge2002vol2.pdf|access-date=17 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126141507/https://www.ecp.gov.pk/ge/ge2002vol2.pdf|archive-date=26 January 2018}} Khan was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and was appointed the Minister of State for Finance{{cite news |title=Four more ministers to be inducted into federal cabinet {{!}} The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1798537/1-pm-imran-induct-four-ministers-federal-cabinet/ |access-date=10 September 2018 |work=The Express Tribune |date=8 September 2018}} where he served from 2004 to 2007.{{cite news|title=Former finance minister Omar Ayub Khan joins PTI - The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1637550/1-former-finance-minister-omar-ayub-khan-joins-pti/|access-date=17 February 2018|work=The Express Tribune|date=17 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217144458/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1637550/1-former-finance-minister-omar-ayub-khan-joins-pti/|archive-date=17 February 2018}}
He ran for the seat of the National Assembly from Constituency NA-19 (Haripur) as a candidate of PML (Q) in 2008 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 50,631 votes and lost the seat to Sardar Muhammad Mushtaq Khan.{{cite web|title=2008 election result|url=https://www.ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf|publisher=ECP|access-date=17 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105060230/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf|archive-date=5 January 2018}}
= Pakistan Muslim League (N) =
He joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) in 2012. He ran for the seat of the National Assembly from Constituency NA-19 (Haripur) as a candidate of PML (N) in 2013 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 116,308 votes and lost the seat to Raja Aamer Zaman.{{cite web|title=2013 election result|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|publisher=ECP|access-date=17 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201140612/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2018}}
He was re-elected to the National Assembly from Constituency NA-19 (Haripur) as a candidate of PML (N) in the by-election held in 2014{{cite news|last1=Newspaper|first1=the|title=PML-N wins NA seat in Haripur|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1083704|access-date=29 June 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=30 January 2014|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919233205/http://www.dawn.com/news/1083704|archive-date=19 September 2015}} and also served as Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs. In 2015, he was unseated as he became ineligible to continue in office as constituency election was invalidated by voting irregularities due to rigging.{{cite news|last1=Reporter|first1=The Newspaper's Staff|title=SC unseats PML-N's Omar Ayub|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1189345|access-date=13 September 2016|date=20 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623094424/http://www.dawn.com/news/1189345|archive-date=23 June 2015}}
= Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf =
In February 2018, he joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He was re-elected to the National Assembly from Constituency NA-17 (Haripur) as a candidate of PTI in 2018 Pakistani general election.{{cite news |title=Highest number of votes cast in Hafizabad during General Election 2018 |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/205132-highest-number-of-votes-cast-in-hafizabad-during-general-election-2018 |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=Geo News |language=en}} He received 172,609 votes and defeated Babar Nawaz Khan.{{cite web |title=NA-17 Result - Election Results 2018 - Haripur - NA-17 Candidates - NA-17 Constituency Details |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/election/constituency/NA-17 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |publisher=The News |access-date=29 July 2018 |language=en}}
On 11 September 2018, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan{{cite news |title=PM Imran's cabinet expanded by six {{!}} The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1800269/1-pm-imrans-cabinet-expanded-six/ |access-date=11 September 2018 |work=The Express Tribune |date=11 September 2018}} and was appointed Federal Minister for Power.{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=The Newspaper's Staff |title=State ministers for revenue, frontier regions notified |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1432615 |access-date=13 September 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=13 September 2018}}{{cite news |title=Govt announces portfolios of new ministers |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/09/12/govt-announces-portfolios-of-new-ministers/ |access-date=13 September 2018 |work=www.pakistantoday.com.pk |date=13 September 2018}}
On 24 April 2019 after the Prime Minister reshuffled the cabinet team, he was given the additional charge of the Ministry of Petroleum, which was previously held by Ghulam Sarwar Khan.{{cite news |title=Omar Ayub given additional charge of petroleum minister |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1967129/omar-ayub-given-additional-charge-petroleum-minister |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=The Express Tribune |date=6 May 2019 |language=en}}
In mid-April 2021 Prime Minister Imran Khan reshuffled the Cabinet, again transferring Omar Ayub Khan from Minister of Energy to Minister of Economic Affairs.https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-cabinet-reshuffle-shaukat-tarin-fourth-finance-minister-in-two-years-1.78544471 ·Gulf News: World/Asia/Pakistan/: April 16th, 2021: Pakistan cabinet reshuffle Shaukat Tarin fourth finance minister in two years
Khan was reelected to the National Assembly as a PTI-affiliated independent following the party's banning. On 16 February, senior PTI official Asad Qaiser said that Imran Khan had nominated Ayub Khan as the party's nominee for prime minister, despite him being in hiding over charges relating to the May 9 riots in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-16 |title=Pakistan: Imran Khan picks Omar Ayub as PM nominee |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68313625 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=BBC |language=en}}
Omar Ayub Khan was a key member in organizing the Imran Khan-led 2022 Long March, a protest against the PML(N) government and the military establishment’s role in politics, in the long march he was severely wounded and bruised by police.{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Army brat to 'anti-establishment' face: Who is Pakistan's Omar Ayub Khan? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/6/army-brat-to-anti-establishment-evolution-of-pakistans-omar-ayub-khan |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
== Leader of the Opposition ==
Ayub played a leadership role in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following Imran Khan’s removal from office. Ayub was given a high leadership role in the upcoming 2024 Pakistani elections, in which he served as the PTI-Independents candidate for prime minister, campaign head and Secretary-General.{{Cite magazine |date=2024-02-16 |title=Who Is Omar Ayub Khan, the Man Imran Khan Wants to Lead Pakistan? |url=https://time.com/6695798/omar-ayub-pakistan-prime-minister-imran-khan-pti-election/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |magazine=TIME |language=en}} Omar Ayub participated by holding press conferences and taking a party leadership role alongside Gohar Ali Khan. Ayub is a key advocate for Imran Khan and claims that the 2024 elections were rigged. Following the 2024 elections which Omar Ayub and the PTI alleged were rigged, Ayub was elected as 12th Leader of Opposition by PTI-SIC parliamentarians.{{Cite web |title=Omar Ayub Of Imran Khan's Party Named Leader Of Opposition In Pakistan National Assembly |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/omar-ayub-of-imran-khans-party-named-leader-of-opposition-in-pakistan-national-assembly-5212577 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=NDTV.com}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=The Newspaper's Staff |date=2024-03-10 |title=PTI-SIC names Omar Ayub as NA leader of opposition |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1820419 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} As Leader of the Opposition, he has furthered the claims that the elections were rigged, as well as delivered pro-Imran Khan and anti-Military establishment in politics speeches inside the National Assembly of Pakistan.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title=The 'generals' elections' in Pakistan that turned against the military |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20240209-the-generals-elections-that-turned-against-pakistan-s-military |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=France 24 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Baloch |first2=Shah Meer |date=2024-02-12 |title=Protests take place across Pakistan amid election vote-rigging allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/11/protests-pakistan-election-vote-rigging-allegations-imran-khan |access-date=2024-03-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=PTV Censorship Sparks Outcry in National Assembly: Omar Ayub Khan Speech Interrupted {{!}} Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) |url=https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/ptv-censorship-sparks-outcry-in-national-assembly-omar-ayub-khan-speech-interrupted/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.pakistanpressfoundation.org |language=en}}
On 27 June 2024,{{Efn|The resignation papers shown by Omar Ayub Khan were dated on 22 June 2024.{{Cite web |title=پی ٹی آئی کے جنرل سیکریٹری عمر ایوب نے عہدے سے استعفیٰ دے دیا |url=https://jang.com.pk/news/1364494 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=jang.com.pk}}}} Ayub announced his resignation as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's chairman of the central finance board and party secretary general, announcing on Twitter that his resignation letter addressed to Imran Khan and Gohar Ali Khan had been accepted. He remarked that he would continue as opposition leader in the NA and as a party worker, citing as opposition leader he was not able to fulfil the role of party general secretary, calling for another appointment in his place.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-06-27 |title=Omar Ayub resigns as PTI secretary general |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40310171 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Junaidi |first1=Ikram |title=Omar Ayub resigns as PTI’s secretary general |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1842390/omar-ayub-resigns-as-ptis-secretary-general |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=DAWN |date=28 June 2024 |language=en}} The resignation came amidst reports of 27 PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad MNAs resigning from the National Assembly in protest against party leadership and criticism from other party leaders including Sher Afzal Marwat, Shahryar Afridi, Shandana Gulzar and ex-PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry. According to reports, 21 of these MNAs displayed their intention to establish a "forward bloc" due to party leaderships failure to release Imran Khan from jail.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-28 |title=Omar Ayub Resigns As PTI Secretary General |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/28-Jun-2024/omar-ayub-resigns-as-pti-secretary-general |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rifts in PTI as ‘21 lawmakers hint at forming forward bloc’ |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1204043-rifts-in-pti-as-21-lawmakers-hint-at-forming-forward-bloc |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Raza |first=Syed Irfan |date=2024-06-29 |title=PTI’s top brass backs Ayub to continue as secretary general |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1842684 |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} The next day on 28 June, a PTI parliamentary party meeting resolution called for rejecting Omar Ayub's resignation supporting Ayub's running of the party during "testing times" and "unanimously" expressing confidence in him. The party meeting was attended by Gohar Ali Khan, Omar Ayub Khan, Asad Gohar, Ali Muhammad Khan and others.{{Cite web |last=Qadir |first=Abdul |date=2024-06-28 |title=PTI parliamentary party rejects Omar Ayub's resignation |url=https://arynews.tv/omar-ayubs-resignation-rejected-by-pti-parliamentary-party/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=ARY NEWS |language=en-US}} On 4 September 2024, Ayub tendered his resignation for the second time as the party’s secretary general, which according to him was accepted by PTI founder Imran Khan.
On 21 October 2024, he argued against the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which he said would undermine the independence of the Judiciary. He further claimed the legislation would “slaughter democracy”. He added that “Our [
Publications
- Roles and Responsibilities of MNAs, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, 2008.{{Cite web |title=Roles and Responsibilities of MNAs |url=https://pildat.org/parliamentary-development1/roles-and-responsibilities-of-mnas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320200417/https://pildat.org/parliamentary-development1/roles-and-responsibilities-of-mnas |archive-date=20 March 2024 |website=Pildat}}
References
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{{Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}}
{{Khan Cabinet}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Omar Ayub}}
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2002–2007
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2018–2023
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2024–2029
Category:Pakistan Muslim League (Q) MNAs
Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) MNAs
Category:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNAs
Category:George Washington University School of Business alumni