ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister of Pakistan, has selected a key member of his party as the nominee for the position of prime minister.

Omar Ayub Khan is set to compete against the candidate of Khan’s political rivals, who have forged a coalition agreement, BBC reported.

In the recent election, independent candidates supported by Khan secured the majority of seats, but fell short of the required number to establish a government.

As per the constitutional mandate, a government must be formed by 29 February, leading to intense negotiations.

Following a meeting between the former premier and Asad Qaiser, a senior leader of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, Omar Ayub Khan was officially announced as the prime ministerial pick, according to BBC.

The National Assembly members will vote on the new prime minister, with 56-year-old Ayub facing off against Shehbaz Sharif, the nominee of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and a former premier.

Despite facing criminal charges related to riots sparked by Imran Khan’s arrest in May of the previous year, Ayub’s eligibility for the prime ministerial post remains intact.

Expressing his commitment, Ayub emphasized that, if elected, his primary focus would be on securing the release of political prisoners.

In the last week’s election, he emerged victorious as an independent candidate backed by the PTI and is the grandson of Mohamed Ayub Khan, a former military dictator and president of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969.

The political landscape in Pakistan has seen significant developments, with the PML-N and PPP forming an alliance.

With the PPP’s support, Shehbaz Sharif has put forward his candidacy for the PML-N’s prime ministerial position.

The voting for the new prime minister will occur after the oath-taking of all newly elected National Assembly members and the selection of the speaker and deputy speaker.

Independent candidates, predominantly affiliated with Imran Khan’s PTI, secured 93 out of the 265 contested seats in the recent election.

The PML-N won 75 seats, while the PPP secured the third position with 54 seats. Despite allegations of vote fraud and interference by the PTI, electoral officials have denied these claims.

Omar Ayub Khan, in a statement, vowed to protect the party’s mandate and stressed PTI’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in Pakistan.

He outlined a vision for putting the country’s economy on a positive trajectory and initiating reform programs for the benefit of the people.

Ayub’s political journey, spanning multiple party affiliations, reflects his experience, with his current role as PTI’s secretary-general since May 27, 2003.

(Inputs from BBC)