Omar Sarfraz Cheema played a pivotal role as a founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). His journey with PTI began in 1996, and since then, he has consistently contested elections as a PTI candidate in 1997, 2002, and 2004. His dedication to the party extended to organisational roles across various levels—tehsil, district, province, and central—contributing significantly to its development. Notably, he has been a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) since 1997.
He was nominated by Imran Khan as the 42nd Governor of Punjab from 3 April 2022 to 10 May 2022. With the assent of Pakistan’s President, he was ousted as Governor and replaced by Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman on May 30, 2022. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi then nominated him as Information Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab. He was also named Chief Minister’s Advisor on Home and Prisons. On January 14, 2023, he stepped down from both positions.
Presently, he holds the esteemed position of PTI’s vice president, continuing his dedicated service to the party.
Education
Cheema was born to a Jat family on July 24, 1969, in Wazirabad, Punjab. He attended Saint Anthony’s School in Lahore. He graduated from Government College University in Lahore.
Former Punjab Governor Omar Cheema Arrested
Omar Sarfaraz Cheema was arrested during a raid at his house by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab on May 10, 2023.
The arrest comes just days after former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers paramilitary force at Islamabad High Court (IHC), in a dramatic move that threatens new turmoil in the country as protests erupted in multiple cities across Pakistan in response to his party’s call.
Cheema Arrested in Fresh Case Linked to May 9 Violence
PTI leader Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, who is already imprisoned in various cases related to the May 9 violence, has been arrested again based on a new first information report about an attack on the Prime Minister’s House in Lahore.
In court, the police presented a supplemental statement outlining new charges against Cheema.
According to the paper, the supervision officer of the Prime Minister House in Lahore stated he was executing his responsibilities on May 9 when a group of PTI supporters allegedly attacked the PM House, led by Hammad Azhar, Jamshed Iqbal, Musarrat Iqbal, Yasmin, Cheema, and others.
He claimed that roughly 800-900 PTI supporters armed with clubs and stones attempted to break into the PM House gate after being “instigated by party leaders who were making incendiary speeches against state institutions.”
“They advanced saying they would teach a lesson for Imran Khan’s arrest,” the officer said, adding that PTI workers also threatened PM House officials.