Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Shireen Mazari and Fayyaz Chauhan have announced to leave the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) under the leadership of Imran Khan, in a major blow to the top opposition party. Later many leaders have separated from it. This after the May 9 violence.
The development came after the senior vice-president of the former ruling party was arrested several times over the past few days following the riots that erupted after the arrest of the former prime minister in the Al-Qadir trust case on May 9.
Earlier, a Gujranwala court granted him bail in a case related to vandalism and attacks on defense and public facilities, including the Lahore Corps Commander House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, during violent protests. He was arrested again.
Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, Mazari – a former federal minister and a close aide of Khan – condemned the May 9 vandalism in which PTI supporters vandalized public and defense installations across the country. And burnt the offering.
“I strongly condemn the May 9 violence. I have always condemned any kind of violence,” he said.
Mazari said that she is leaving not only her party but also politics. “From today I am not a part of any political party”.
The senior PTI leader also said that his health deteriorated during the last 12 days of detention.
“My children and parents are [now] my priority,” he said.
“I condemn violence against state symbols like GHQ, Parliament and Supreme Court,” she added.
Expressing her ordeal, Mazari said her daughter Iman Mazari had to go through a tough time due to her repeated arrests. “When I was taken to jail for the third time, my daughter was crying so much, I watched the video of her.”
The veteran politician added that she has also submitted an affidavit in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) promising that she will not be part of any violent protests in future.
Since the May 9 tragedy, many PTI leaders and lawmakers – including Aamir Mehmood Kayani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mehmood Maulvi and Aftab Siddiqui, among others – have publicly condemned the attacks on state facilities and Has announced to leave the party.
Reacting to the defection of PTI leaders, Imran Khan has claimed that they were pressured to leave the party.
Khan wrote on his official Twitter handle last week, “My sympathies are with all those who are under pressure and have been forced to leave the party. And I salute and salute all the senior members who resisting intense pressure to quit.” .
After the May 9 vandalism, the high-powered National Security Committee (NSC), comprising the country’s top civilian and military leadership, vowed to try the culprits under the country’s relevant laws, including the Army Act.
Subsequently, thousands of party workers were arrested across the country for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, with the party’s top leadership including vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and secretary general Asad Umar on behalf of the court. He remained behind bars despite the release order.
