Hammad Azhar to have 'important role' in Punjab as Imran Khan vows to stay close to Lahore

• "I will not keep away from Lahore," PTI Chairman Imran Khan says.
•  Former prime minister says next month he will visit Lahore twice a week.
• PTI chairman also praises Yasmin Rashid for her services to party.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in an exclusive interview with Geo News on Friday, vowed to keep a close eye on Lahore — considered to be the political heart of Pakistan's largest province, Punjab.

"I will not keep away from Lahore. Next month, I will live here twice a week," he said, from his residence in Zaman Park.

Seemingly upbeat ahead of the election for the chief minister of Punjab, where PTI is favoured to win after clinching 15 seats in the recently held Punjab by-election, Khan turned to Hammad Azhar — present during the interview — saying that he will be given an "important role" whereby he will organise the party in the province.

The former prime minister also heaped praise on party leader Yasmin Rashid, saying that the ex-health minister has done tremendous work for the PTI in Punjab.

PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Zulfi Bukhari were also present.

The PTI chief, speaking of the party's astounding success in the recently-held Punjab by-polls, said it was "unexpected the way people came out to lend their support to the party's narrative".

"We had something based on truth which we put before the people and they responded spectacularly," Khan said.

He also expressed confidence that Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the party's candidate for the election, will win.

The Punjab chief minister's election will take place shortly, which is expected to be a determining factor in the country's politics — as the province holds its separate significance.

The PTI and PML-Q have fielded a joint candidate, Pervez Elahi, for the election and they have enough numbers to ensure his win — having 188 votes, which is two more than the required simple majority (186).