ISLAMABAD: The mass exodus from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the May 9 violence does not appear to be abating, as more leaders defected from the beleaguered party on Friday.
Among the PTI leaders who jumped from the plane were former advisor of Punjab Firdous Ashiq Awan, former Punjab Education Minister Murad Ras, former MNA Khurram Shehzad, Mian Ahsan Ansar Bhatti, Imran Khan’s close aides Saifullah Niazi and Abrarul Haq. were
PTI leaders have been distancing themselves from the party since the May 9 incidents and are trying to fix responsibility for the arson and the deliberate targeting of military installations.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s former close aide and party chief organizer Senator Saifullah Niazi on Friday quit the party and condemned the May 9 attacks.
Addressing a news conference at National Press Club Islamabad, Saifullah Niazi said that he is leaving PTI to focus on his family and his health.
He said that attacks on property and vehicles are neither teachings of Islam nor home training. He said that every Pakistani can only condemn such attacks.
Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan told reporters at the same place that Pakistan and Imran cannot go together.
Firdous said that she will no longer be a part of PTI due to the terrorist attacks on May 9 and is quitting the party. Dr. Awan said that she joined PTI not for business or job but to build new Pakistan.
I joined PTI for national interest. To uphold this cause, I raised my voice in the party and challenged Imran’s specific thinking, which has become poison for Pakistan.
He expressed regret that negative propaganda was done by spending billions of national treasury. He further said that the mentality and negative mentality that the nation saw on May 9 is the result of this political strategy.
Martyrs and love for country is part of our faith. Those who insulted martyrs actually attacked Pakistan’s assets. However, he said that his political journey will continue, and the focus and purpose of his politics is the people of his constituency.
Apart from this, PTI leader and former education minister of Punjab Murad Ras announced to leave the party. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Ross said that mere condemnation is not enough for what happened on May 9.
“We never thought that we would part ways with the party,” he said along with other leaders including Pir Ahmed Khagah, Raja Yawar Kamal and Chaudhry Adnan. The former provincial minister said that we do not believe in PTI’s politics of violence.
Ross said that he and other politicians present at the press conference have decided to form a group to continue working on the development of Pakistan.
President of PTI Sindh Youth Wing and Member of Sindh Assembly Abbas Jafri also separated from the party. In a video statement, Jaffrey said he had condemned the May 9 incident before and still does.
The foundation of Pakistan is the army and this foundation cannot be weakened at any cost. I resign from the membership of the party and all positions of the party,” he said while talking to the media in Karachi.
PTI MPA Rabia Azfar Nizami wrote on her Twitter account: “I condemn what happened on May 9, because the forces are an integral part of maintaining Pakistan as a federation. Can’t afford to put my children in danger at the cost of adventure. I hereby announce to quit PTI, all government posts and politics and will find an alternative way to achieve this goal. Which I think. Long live #Pakistan”.
A teary-eyed Shahzad said he was saying goodbye to the party. Khurram said that his loyalty is with the country and he has no intention of going abroad.
Abrarul Haq also bid farewell to the party during a press conference in Lahore. He expressed deep respect for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their country.
He said that almost all of them condemned the events of May 9 and vowed to make meaningful efforts for the betterment of Pakistan. Former MPA from Pindi Bhatti Mian Ahsan Ansar Bhatti has also officially separated from the party. Addressing the press conference, he expressed deep sorrow over the events of May 9.
It is noteworthy that PTI Sindh Vice President Mahmood Maulvi, PTI Karachi President Aftab Siddiqui, Khairpur District President Syed Ghulam Shah, MNA Jai Prakash, MPA Bilal Ghaffar, MPA Umar Umari. , MPA Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, MPA Sanjay Gangwani and MPA Dr Muhammad Ali also participated. Imran Shah is also among those who left PTI.
Former (founding) member of PTI Fauzia Kasuri said on Friday that Imran Khan betrayed hundreds of party workers.
In her tweet, she said, “Main bad dua nahi duti (don’t curse). But, @ImranKhanPTI lied, cheated and hurt hundreds of workers like me. He was arrogant, cruel and unjust. I He left his justice to Allah. It is happening now! Long live the Holy One!
