Islamabad: Shireen Mazari and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan resigned the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). It is in a severe blow to the top opposition party, which has lost many leaders since the May 9 violence.
The former ruling party’s senior vice president had imprisoned multiple times in the days following the May 9 riots sparked by the former prime minister’s imprisonment in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
After the Gujranwala court granted her bail in a case involving the vandalism and attacks on defence and public institutions like Lahore Corps Commander’s House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi during the violent protests, she re-arrested.
Mazari condemned the May 9 vandalism in which PTI supporters stormed and burned public and defence facilities around the country.
“I strongly condemn May 9 violence. “I’ve always opposed violence,” she said.
Mazari left her party and politics. “I’m out of politics now.”
The top PTI leader stated her health deteriorated in the last 12 days of imprisonment.
“My children and parents my priority,” she said.
She also condemned violence against state symbols including the GHQ, parliament, and the Supreme Court.
Moreover, Mazari stated her daughter, Imaan, suffered from her recurrent arrests. “When jailed for the third time, my daughter was crying a lot, I saw her video.”
The veteran lawmaker added that she had submitted an affidavit to the IHC promising not to participate in violent protests.
After the May 9 mayhem, many PTI leaders and parliamentarians, including Aamir Mehmood Kiani. Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, and Aftab Siddiqui, criticised the attacks on state installations and announced their departure.
Imran Khan said the PTI leaders left under pressure.
“I sympathise with those who pressured to leave the party. “And I commend and salute all the senior members who are resisting the extreme pressure to quit the party,” Khan said on his official Twitter account last week.
The high-powered National Security Committee (NSC), composed of top civil and military leaders, committed to try the vandals under appropriate laws, including the Army Act, after the May 9 vandalism.
After the May 9 riots, many of party workers were detained nationwide, including party vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. As well as secretary general Asad Umar, who were jailed defying court orders.
