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Islamabad, Pakistan – Moments after Pakistan’s newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded his victory speech amid a ruckus in parliament, Omar Ayub Khan acquired as much as deal with the home from the opposition benches.
Posters of Imran Khan, the chairman of Omar’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) get together and a former Pakistani prime minister, had been pasted on his desk and on these of his colleagues.
Sporting a red-and-green scarf, the colors of his PTI, 54-year-old Omar invoked a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “There’s something rotten within the system of Pakistan at the moment.”
In keeping with Imran Khan, what’s rotten is the function of Pakistan’s navy institution – which the previous cricket captain-turned-politician accused of interfering within the nation’s politics to take away him from energy in 2022, a cost the military denies.
Omar, in any other case a eager journey sports activities fanatic with a ardour for aviation and skydiving, has been way more circumspect, coaching his weapons on the political events which have mixed to kind the federal government: Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), the Pakistan Folks’s Celebration (PPP) and different smaller events.
“Their faces betray the actual fact they’re sad. They know a theft occurred,” he mentioned in parliament, trying on the authorities benches. “They know the system can’t perform like this. They’ve stolen our mandate.”
But the speech cemented his standing because the parliamentary face of a celebration that seems to be relishing its stature as a drive that has challenged the function of the navy in Pakistan’s politics.
It’s a legacy that Omar is aware of higher than most.
It was his grandfather Normal Ayub Khan who delivered the primary devastating blow to Pakistan’s fledgling democracy when he turned its first martial regulation administrator in 1958 and dominated the nation for the following 11 years. Ayub’s tenure put in place a template that others would observe: Army rulers have instantly ruled Pakistan for greater than 30 of its 77 years as an unbiased nation.
Now, Ayub’s grandson is pitching a brand new path for Pakistan, driving on the recognition of the PTI, which defied the percentages within the February 8 elections to emerge because the get together whose candidates received probably the most seats, regardless of not even having the ability to use their get together image.
However the PTI was not Omar Ayub Khan’s first political calling. And even his second.
Celebration-hopper to PTI loyalist
Till 2018, Omar Ayub Khan was generally known as a party-hopper in Pakistan. He contested the 2008, 2013 and 2018 elections representing three totally different events, making him one of the vital talked-about turncoats within the nation.
That notion started to shift practically two years in the past when Imran Khan was voted out of energy in parliament via a no-confidence movement, which the PTI accused the navy of engineering.
To protest his removing and demand a snap election, Imran Khan, with tens of hundreds of his supporters, deliberate an extended march from Peshawar Metropolis to the capital Islamabad in Might 2022, and gave the accountability of organising the protest to Omar.
However the march was met with a brutal crackdown by the federal government. Omar was amongst those that had been thrashed viciously.
“As I used to be making an attempt to navigate previous the obstacles to permit Khan’s container to cross via, police unleashed their fury on me, beating me continuous with sticks,” Omar advised Al Jazeera on Sunday as he sat for an interview in the lounge of his residence in Islamabad’s leafy F-6 neighbourhood, hours after his speech within the parliament.
A purple carpet coated the ground of the huge room, with mirrors lining the partitions.
Omar cleared his throat – it was itchy, he mentioned, and apologised – as he recalled the assault two years in the past, which left him hospitalised for 3 days.
“I had vertigo, which I by no means acquired (beforehand) regardless of being an aviator. I had bruises throughout my physique. My ear drum virtually ruptured. The docs mentioned if the beating on my again was merely inches above, I might have had irreversible spinal harm,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, photographs of his bruised physique went viral – sealing his place as a distinguished chief of the PTI.
For a person whose household has been part of Pakistan’s elite since even earlier than independence, it was a turning level.
His great-grandfather was a cavalry officer within the British military in the course of the colonial rule over the subcontinent. Omar’s grandfather Ayub Khan dominated over Pakistan for greater than a decade (1958-1969) with an iron hand, giving the nation its second structure in 1962, whereas additionally conducting elections in the identical decade, which had been rife with accusations of manipulation.
Omar’s father, Gohar Ayub, additionally briefly served within the navy earlier than becoming a member of politics and rising to be the speaker of the Nationwide Meeting in addition to a overseas minister below three-time Prime Minister and PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif within the Nineties.
Omar’s mom, Zeb Gohar Ayub, was the daughter of Habibullah Khattak, a prime navy normal within the Sixties who was seen as one of many contenders to change into the military chief. Equally, his maternal uncle, Ali Kuli Khan, was additionally touted as a possible candidate for the military chief within the late Nineties.
But, when the safety forces determined to unleash their fury on Omar, none of that mattered.
Musharraf’s man
Omar was born on January 26, 1970, in Karachi, the nation’s largest metropolis – and its first capital earlier than his grandfather moved it to Islamabad within the early Sixties – within the southern province of Sindh. His household, although, belongs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s city of Haripur within the Hazara area, roughly 125km (77 miles) from the present capital.
He says his earliest reminiscences are of quite a few visits to Peshawar jail within the mid-Nineteen Seventies the place his father, Gohar Ayub Khan, was imprisoned by then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Gohar fought the 1977 elections from jail and received, marking his entry into parliament. Somewhat greater than a decade later, he turned to Omar to assist.
“I went to america in 1989 to check however the subsequent 12 months, my father requested me if I might take a semester off to assist him run the election marketing campaign,” Omar advised Al Jazeera.
Omar watched his father change into a key PMLN chief within the Nineties whereas he completed his grasp’s diploma in enterprise research from George Washington College within the US.
Following a navy coup by Normal Pervez Musharraf in 1999, which overthrew the then-Nawaz Sharif authorities, the PMLN discovered itself abandoned by a lot of leaders, together with Omar’s father Gohar, who joined the breakaway Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ) get together.
After declaring himself the president in 2001, Musharraf carried out an election the next 12 months, which Omar’s father was declared ineligible to contest.
So Omar contested on the PMLQ ticket and have become a parliamentarian for the primary time. His mom Zeb additionally turned a member of a seat reserved for girls for a similar get together.
He rose to change into a parliamentary secretary and finally, a cupboard minister between 2004 and 2007, below the premiership of Shaukat Aziz.
Defending his tenure below a navy ruler’s authorities, Omar mentioned these had been the times of fast-paced financial and technological modifications, which had been essential for the folks.
“There was a increase in several sectors. TV channels emerged and telecoms got here to Pakistan. It was a interval of improvement and supply, which is what my constituents wished,” he mentioned. “You’re employed on your folks, your constituents. They vote so that you can resolve their improvement points. The ideological framework didn’t exist in politics then.”
Nonetheless, he misplaced the 2008 normal election, held solely months after the assassination of former two-time Prime Minister and PPP chief Benazir Bhutto. The PPP went on to kind the federal government.
‘You assist us, we’ll provide help to’
For the entire democratic beliefs that Omar champions, it’s chilly political pragmatism that has been his fixed ally.
After his loss within the 2008 election, Omar says the PMLN approached him in 2011.
“Regardless of my father’s connections with the PMLN, I by no means developed any private relations with the Sharifs. So, when PMLN’s native staff approached me, they mentioned, ‘You assist us; we’ll provide help to,’ and that’s how I joined the PMLN,” he defined.
Nonetheless, he mentioned, the PMLN was not his most popular get together then. “The PTI was an rising drive on the time, and whereas we had good phrases with Imran Khan’s household, I by no means personally knew him. I used to be eager to affix them however they picked my rival within the space, so I went with the get together that supplied me a spot.”
Whereas Omar received a seat within the 2013 elections, contesting for the PMLN in opposition to his PTI rival, his victory was short-lived. In 2015, the Supreme Court docket ordered a re-poll on the seat as a result of “irregularities”.
Omar determined to not contest the polls as a result of his mom’s sickness; the previous parliamentarian handed away later that very same 12 months.
Whereas nonetheless a part of the PMLN, Omar mentioned he was contacted by the PTI’s staff in his constituency in 2018, merely months earlier than the final elections.
“Upon receiving an invitation from Imran Khan to go to Bani Gala, his residence in Islamabad, I visited the place he warmly embraced me and welcomed me to the fold. I’ve all the time admired him,” he mentioned.
Asad Umar, a former federal minister and Omar’s predecessor as PTI’s secretary normal, advised Al Jazeera that whereas he solely met Omar after he joined the get together, their working relationship flourished instantly.
Calling his former colleague a “humble, mature” politician, Umar mentioned the present secretary normal was somebody who has an “excellent” understanding of macro-political points.
“He’s deeply related along with his constituency and works intently with them. However along with his household pedigree, he’s additionally keenly conscious of our system and he’s somebody with excessive integrity,” Umar advised Al Jazeera.
He additionally defended his buddy and former cupboard colleague’s determination to change events, saying that earlier than PTI’s emergence in 2011, most political events functioned in an identical method and had been very conventional of their method.
“Since becoming a member of PTI, I can inform you that Omar has all the time exhibited behaviour that’s in keeping with the get together’s ideology. Our political events are divided on ideological traces. Will probably be uncommon to see a prime PTI official becoming a member of the ranks of the PPP or PMLN – or vice-versa,” he added.
Defiance or desperation?
If Omar is that uncommon politician, his critics query the intentions behind his earlier choices to change events and his present stance of standing by the PTI, asking whether it is “defiance” or “desperation”.
“Is he loyal to the PTI? Or is it compelled as a result of no one is keen to affiliate with him amongst different political events? It’s not a revolution; it’s out of necessity,” a political rival who requested anonymity advised Al Jazeera, including that Imran Khan’s imprisonment as a result of a number of convictions would possibly lead others within the PTI to see it as a chance to rise to the highest.
Journalist Azaz Syed mentioned that Omar Ayub “found out” that solely with the PTI might he rise to the highest tier, one thing he failed to attain with different events.
“He’s now in tier 1 within the PTI, and he additionally noticed how well-liked the get together is. However if you happen to discover his speeches intently, he’s nonetheless not criticising the navy in any respect, as an alternative specializing in civilians,” he advised Al Jazeera.
When it got here to energy in 2018, the PTI was additionally accused of cosying as much as the navy, till the connection between Imran Khan and the military soured.
At the moment, when the PTI is seen by many in Pakistan as railing in opposition to the institution – a euphemism for the navy – Omar is treading a extra cautious line. He insists he’s nothing however a patriot.
“I’ve not met with navy folks. Certain, we have now shut household ties however I’m a politician. My chief is a patriot and a democrat, and so am I. We are going to take parliamentary, democratic steps to recuperate our misplaced mandate,” he mentioned.
Islamabad-based journalist Syed added that if Omar is nominated because the get together’s opposition head, will probably be a tactically smart move by the PTI.
It might present, he mentioned, that “the PTI is prepared, and even keen to barter with the institution.
“Omar has a previous that hews intently to them, and whereas he is aware of what to say, extra importantly, he additionally is aware of what to not say.”
Muhammad Ali Durrani, a longtime acquaintance in addition to a colleague within the cupboard below Musharraf’s rule, expressed related sentiments.
“For me, what stands out about Omar is his care. I’ve by no means seen him have interaction in free discuss. He’s very cautious, cautious and guarded in what he talks about,” the previous parliamentarian advised Al Jazeera.
A frontrunner from the PMLN, talking on situation of anonymity, advised Al Jazeera that having Omar on the helm in parliament provides the PTI a uncommon mixture: an in a position, skilled politician in cost, who also can assist pave the way in which for his or her reconciliation with the institution.
“He’s a really skilled politician and has relations with politicians in addition to the institution. He can ship in parliament as an efficient opposition chief, whereas additionally sending a message to the institution to barter with and supply the get together house with out additional agitation or provocation.”
In his speeches in parliament and in any other case, Omar has persistently demanded that the get together’s mandate be returned and was categorical that the choice to take a seat within the opposition, regardless of the get together successful the best variety of seats, was a call made by get together chief Imran Khan – and one which he agrees with. It’s a distinction from the final time the PTI was in opposition, in the course of the PMLN authorities between 2013 and 2018, when Imran Khan’s get together carried out most of its politics on the streets, not in parliament.
“The final two years have hardened us, skilled us. Khan has mentioned this quite a few instances: we won’t take a weak authorities. There isn’t a compromise to be made with events such because the PPP, which have ideologically nothing like us, which work on patronage and largesse, whereas we’re a celebration represented by the entire nation,” Omar mentioned.
“We are going to stay in opposition and provides the federal government a troublesome time.”
‘New chapter’
At a time when Imran Khan is in jail, confronted with a deluge of circumstances and convictions – and the PTI is grappling with a crackdown on its leaders – Omar gives one other high quality to his get together chief: loyalty.
Even at the moment, six years after being a part of the get together, Omar doesn’t know why or how he managed to get so near Khan, however gives clues.
“I believe he noticed my loyalty and my dedication, and trusted me,” Omar says.
After Might 9 final 12 months, when Khan was briefly detained on corruption prices, a lot of get together employees stormed the streets and rioted.
The state retaliated, arresting and jailing hundreds of PTI supporters, whereas dozens of its leaders had been compelled to stop the get together – many below the alleged stress of the navy.
Forward of the February 8 vote, with PTI in clear ascendancy in accordance with opinion polls, the get together’s election image was cancelled for violating electoral legal guidelines, forcing a whole bunch of its candidates to battle as independents.
Omar contested the Nationwide Meeting seat from Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the place his household roots lie, polling some 192,000 votes to defeat his PMLN rival.
The PTI, regardless of prices of rigging worsened by unusually delayed outcomes, emerged as the biggest get together by successful 93 seats.
No political get together received a transparent majority within the 336-member Nationwide Meeting however the PMLN with 75 seats and the Pakistan Peoples Celebration (PPP) with 54 shaped an alliance, like they did in 2022 to take away Imran Khan from energy.
With Khan in jail and barred from contesting, Omar was declared the PTI’s prime ministerial candidate – a mark of the deep belief his chief has in him because the get together struggled to remain within the race for energy.
“Credit score should be given to him for withstanding the stress. His resistance marks a brand new chapter for himself and his household historical past,” Durrani, the previous federal minister mentioned.
“He might need been tempted to go away PTI however as an alternative, he selected to facet with public sentiment in a pro-democratic act. Full marks to him.”