Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi Chapter President Aftab Siddiqui has announced his separation from the former ruling party and quitting politics while protesting against the vandalism that took place on May 9 after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Siddiqui, who is a Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Karachi’s NA-247 constituency, said in a series of tweets on Sunday that he was disappointed after party workers vandalized public and military installations on May 9. were done Country.
“I always wish to see Pakistan prosper. As a peaceful citizen and a true patriot, the events of May 9 and the violence in the attack on national monuments and memorial martyrs have disappointed me and I condemn it,” he said on his Twitter handle.
I have always aspired to see Pakistan prosperous. As a peaceful citizen and a true patriot, the violence that took place in the events on May 9th and the attack on national monuments and Yaadgaar-e-Shahuda, has left me dismayed and I condemn the same.
— Aftab Siddiqui (@AftabHSiddiqi) May 21, 2023
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Siddiqui said that he has decided to stay away from politics and resigned from the post of Karachi chapter legislator and party president. “I will continue to serve my country by working for the betterment of people in my individual capacity, and contribute to the economy as a businessman.”
Siddiqui is the latest PTI leader to defect from the Imran Khan-led party after violent protests erupted on May 9 and lasted for nearly three days, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens.
The country’s top civil-military leadership condemned the May 9 violence as a “black day” and vowed to prosecute the rioters under the Pakistan Army Act and other relevant laws of the country.
The PTI chief has distanced his party from the violence and blamed “people from agencies” for the vandalism of defense installations including the Lahore Corps Commander’s house and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. He also demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the violence.
So far, over a dozen PTI leaders and lawmakers — including Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam and Mahmood Moulvi — have quit the party citing attacks on public and defense facilities during PTI protests.
