IMRAN Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated party secretary general Omar Ayub as its prime ministerial candidate, according to local media reports.

The independent candidates backed by PTI form the largest bloc. However, despite independents winning 101 national assembly seats, a government can only be formed by a recognized party, or coalition of parties, so they would have to join another group to become an effective bloc.

The announcement comes amid the attempts by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to form a coalition government.

Who is Omar Ayub?

Born on January 26, 1970, Omar Ayub belongs to the famous Ayub Khan family, with his grandfather being General Muhammad Ayub Khan, the second President of Pakistan. His father, Gohar Ayub Khan, also had a significant political career, serving as a member of the National Assembly and holding various ministerial positions.

Omar Ayub received his education from reputable institutions both in Pakistan and abroad. He completed his early education in Pakistan and later pursued higher studies overseas.

He joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which was founded by Imran Khan, a former cricketer turned politician who later became the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Over the years, Omar Ayub Khan has held several important positions within the PTI and the government.

He has held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Petroleum.

Asif Ali Zardari likely to become Pakistan president

As PML-N, PPP, MQMP, PML-Q, IPP and BAP have announced to form a coalition government at the Centre, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is likely to become the President of the country for the second time, local media reported.

On Tuesday, the abovementioned parties had announced to form a government in the Centre on the lines of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, Geo News reported.

PML-N leadership has agreed to support Zardari for the post of president in return for PPP's support to Shehbaz Sharif for the Prime Minister's post, sources said.

Meanwhile, PML(N) leader Rana Sanaullah said that PPP did not not demand the top constitutional post of president.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had on Tuesday announced Zardari as PPP candidate for the President's post.

"I am not saying this because he is my father. I am saying this because the country is in a huge crisis at the moment and if anyone can douse this fire, it is Asif Ali Zardari," Bilawal had said.