In a significant blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), party stalwarts Ali Zaidi and Makhdoom Khushro Bakhtiar publicly announced their departure from the former ruling party on Saturday, in the aftermath of the incidents on May 9.
Ali Zaidi, the PTI’s Sindh president, conveyed his decision to step back from politics in a video message. He stressed that the decision was made after much contemplation, stating, “I resign from the PTI Sindh chairmanship, the core committee, and my National Assembly membership.” Despite leaving the party, Zaidi reiterated his commitment to continue contributing to Pakistan and bolstering its foreign exchange reserves.
Ali Zaidi denounced the May 9 events, emphasizing the need for justice for those involved. Recognizing the role of the Pakistan Army in ensuring peace and security, he reaffirmed his entrance into politics was driven by his dedication to the country.
In a parallel development, former federal minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar declared his exit from PTI. He revealed that he had previously cautioned the party’s top-ranking and frontline leadership that PTI’s confrontational approach towards national institutions could have detrimental effects. He attributed his disassociation from the party’s politics, the core committee, and the South Punjab presidency to this policy.
Bakhtiar underlined that the unsettling events of May 9 prompted his disconnection from PTI’s political philosophy. Voicing his confidence, he stated, “I am very sure that the future of Pakistan is not in the politics of division and partisanship.”
The intensifying crackdown on PTI in the aftermath of the May 9 violence has led to a spate of defections by various PTI leaders, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s close associates. This resulted in what the former prime minister termed as “forced divorces.”
Read More: Progress in May 9th Violent Incident Investigation: Prime Minister Calls for Swift Action
Despite the temporary release of some leaders based on court orders, the re-arrest of many indicates that the crackdown is far from over.
Several high-profile PTI members such as Shireen Mazari, Aamir Kiani, Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, among others, have declared their split from the erstwhile ruling party.
Asad Umar, a confidant of the PTI chief, stepped down from his roles as secretary-general and core committee member, alluding to the ongoing situation. His departure followed shortly after Fawad Chaudhry, another key ally of Imran, also exited the party.
Nonetheless, senior PTI leaders like Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mehmoodur Rasheed have maintained their support for the party chief, vowing to remain with the PTI amidst these departures.
