Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Hisham Ullah Khan has announced his decision to part ways with the PTI over May 9 violent protests and central party leaders’ “anti-military” narrative.

“I consider my association with the PTI as an insult,” he said at a press conference in Peshawar on Saturday. “I do not want to stand with those who spread anti-nationalism.”

Earlier, Aaj News while quoting sources within the party reported that Hisham would leave party following violent protests in the wake of May 9 protests, the day when Imran Khan was arrested.

Over the past couple of days, many PTI leaders have quit the party citing concerns similar to what Hisham has. In the protests, which continued for two days, state buildings and “sensitive” places were attacked.

But Khan claims that his party leaders were under pressure to quit. He has condemned the violence and called for an inquiry conducted by the chief justice of Pakistan. The government has decided to try civilians under the army act, however, rights organisations have condemned such a move.

“I resign from my PTI membership right here and now because I do not have disloyalty in my blood as a Pashtun,” Hisham said.

He announced that he and his family Saifullah Brothers and their supporters were thinking to contest elections on all Lakki Marwat seats and reserved seats of the Southern district through the ‘Marwat Bettani Qaum’ platform.

He went on to add that they can have an alliance with the mainstream parties.

Why Hisham decided to quit?

In addition to the May 9 violence, sources said that Hisham was angry about Khan’s “anti-establishment” narrative. They added that the PTI leader had differences with the party which was exacerbated when he was accused of neglecting local organisation.

This prompted the local organisation to oppose him and Hisham was apparently neglected in private events of the PTI.

Hisham joined the PTI in 2018 and was elected MPA from Lakki Marwat, KP. He served as the provincial minister for health in the last PTI tenure.

Sources claimed that Hisham was already fired from the party for his “anti-party election” in the local government polls. They alleged that he was using the PTI’s name to secure his political future.