PTI leader and singer Abrar ul Haq announced on Friday that he would resign from the party.

“I am parting ways with politics for now,” an emotional Abrar said in a press conference in Lahore.

Abrar said that he could not see the element of serving people in politics anymore.

Imran tells workers to be patient among crackdown, desertions

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan told workers to be patient as party leader continued to resign from the party. He also called for immediate talks with institutions to end the political crisis in the country.

“First of all I want to clarify that that I did not call this press conference to announce that I am leaving the Tehreek-e-Insaf,” Imran said in a speech broadcast on PTI Official’s YouTube channel.

“I would like to appeal for talks, because what is currently happening is not a solution,” he said.

He also said that whenever he had offered to negotiate the crackdown by the government had renewed in intensity.

“Every principle Pakistan was created on is being negated,” he said. “There is no freedom in the country.”

Imran referred to the recent flurry of resignations from the party as ‘forced divorces’ and said that people were resigning on gun point.

“Do you think people are stupid? Do you think people don’t understand what is happening?” Imran said.

Imran added that the party and the prevailing situation could not be fixed through use of the stick. He added that the country was being destroyed in an attempt to crish the PTI.

“A party comes to an end when its ideology comes to an end,” he said. “The PTI’s vote bank keeps increasing the more injustice they’re doing.”

Imran Khan said that the falling value of the rupee against the dollar was leading Pakistan towards ‘hyper-inflation’ and things could become as bad as Sri Lanka. However, he added that the government was not interested in managing the economy because their wealth was stored abroad.

However, he added that people were not coming out on to the streets because they were hoping that elections would take place in the country soon.

Imran said that even though the PDM had the entire establishment on its side, they are still running away from elections out of a fear that Imran Khan would win the elections.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Saifullah Niazi announced on Friday that he would part ways with the party.

He also condemned the events of May 9 and said he wanted to turn his attention to his family and his health, since the last year had been very stressful for him.

Niazi was a relative and was considered a close aide of the PTI chief.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Jamal Akbar Ansari announced that his resignation from the party on Friday.

“We must reflect on how we strayed from our path,” he said in a press conference in Islamabad.

Ansari had been serving as the party’s chief election commissioner since 2020 and had been with the party for about 20 years.

Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel has claimed that Imran Khan’s medical reports had shown traces of toxic substances including cocaine and alcohol.

Patel said that the traces had been found in Imran’s urine test that was taken at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.

However, he added that a final conclusion could not be made about the percentage of toxic substances until the full report came in, but initial reports had shown uninhibited use of alcohol and cocaine.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Thursday, Patel said that the report had raised concerns on Imran Khan’s ‘mental health.’ He also said that the panel of five senior doctors had said that Imran made ‘inappropriate’ gestures.

He also said that the medical examination did not reveal any fracture on Imran’s leg. He said plasters are not applied on flesh wounds.

“Imran roamed around with plaster on his leg for six months for no reason,” he said.

The report shared with the media desccribed Imran Khan as ‘fit’ with most parameters shown as ‘normal’ and did not mention any toxic substances.

However, the report did add a note on Imran Khan’s mental state.

“The gentleman was examined and appears under stress with anxiety symptoms. There was excessive anger/anxiety about the events happening in the last few weeks. He had little insight about the seriousness and reality of the current situation. The mental stability is questionable. There were some inappropriate gestures,” he said.

“Is this the man declared sadiq and ameen by the courts?” Patel asked.

He went on to add that he had been the first to say that Imran was not mentally fit to be a politician and the revelations of the medical report had proven his version to be true.

As party leaders continue to leave his party, Imran Khan said the only thing he missed was hiking with his sons.

“The only thing I miss these days is hiking in our northern mountains with my sons,” he wrote. The post also included a photo of him in the mountains with his sons.

“Allah has blessed Pakistan with the best mountain trekking in the world. Inshallah one day we will make Pakistan the skiing capital of the world.”

Firdous Ashiq Awan announced on Friday that she would part ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but would continue politics.

“I entered politics for a national cause,” she said. “I will continue to engage in politics and in protecting Pakistan’s interests.”

“May 9 was an organised conspiracy planned in Zaman Park based on a foreign agenda,” she added.

She added that a negative agenda that had ‘moulded people’s brains’ was responsible for the current situation.

Another PTI leader and former Punjab education minister, Murad Raas, has announce that he is quitting the party.

Ironically, Raas, who is among dozens of PTI leaders to leave the party, blamed Khan’s advisers for what was happening in the country today. He announced his decision to leave the party in a press conference in Lahore.

His eyes welled up with tears as he announced his decision.

Raas said he never believed in violent protest and did not want to pick a fight with institutions.

He blamed Imran Khan’s advisers for what was happening in the country.

The former education minister said the party needed to speak with the people sitting inside the country.

Raas said he had gambled it all – kashtiyan jala kar aya tha – when he joined the PTI in 2008 and had never thought things will come to this point.

Abrar ul Haq burst into tears as he announces resignation

PTI leader and singer Abrar ul Haq announced on Friday that he would resign from the party.

“I am parting ways with politics for now,” an emotional Abrar said in a press conference in Lahore. However, he added that no one knew what the future could bring.

Abrar said that he could not see the element of serving people in politics anymore.

He added that he had been raised in a patriotic household and had even prayed for martyrdom as a child. He added that the events of May 9 had been unfortunate and he could not continue to be a part of the PTI anymore.

He also said that he had built institutions for social service which honored the families of martyrs regularly.

Saifullah Niazi leaves PTI

In a short press confernce in Islamabad, Imran Khan’s relative and close confidant Saifullah Niazi said that he would part ways with the party.

He also said that he condemned the events of May 9 and but left without taking any questions from journalists.

Babar Awan leaves Pakistan

Imran Khan’s close aide and legal adviser Babar Awan has left Pakistan in an unannounced moved.

Awan took a flight to London from the Islamabad International Airport at 1pm on Friday, Aaj News reported.

He boarded Virgin Atlantic flight VS379 which was to land in London shortly after 5pm according to Pakistan time.

Awan has been an outspoken critic of the PDM government. He joined the PTI in 2017 after years of affiliation with the Pakistan Peoples Party.

In recent days, PTI has seen its several leaders quitting the party or stepping down from their posts.

However, Awan said he was with the party and had left the country for “ pre-arranged private engagements.“

“I have left the country for pre-arranged private engagements. All my medicines are Pakistani and treated by proud Pakistani doctors. Imran was a friend before, now he is my leader, Tehreek-e-Insaf is my larger family and Pakistan is my destination,” he said in a tweet.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the decision to ban the Imran Khan-led PTI will be made in Parliament after consultation with coalition parties.

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader was speaking to the media in Lahore on Friday.

He said that “red lines” were crossed on May 9 in a way that was never seen before in the country’s history.

“On May 9, not a single civilian installation was attacked. Across the worlds, there have been instances of attacks on civilian installations, but never has it happened that you attack and disrespect your martyrs’ memorials.”

“This is unforgivable,” he added.

The PML-N leader that he came to see the plight of Jinnah House. “It was brutally attacked on May 9. Quaid-e-Azam’s pictures and other memorials were burnt.”

He repeated that it was a “planned attack” on installations. “It was a revolt against the state. There was no response to when someone attempted to murder Imran Khan.”

“Why was there such a reaction to Imran Khan’s arrest,” he asked.

Asif said that Imran Khan always targeted Pakistan Army in statements. The attackers were not Pakistanis by religion and ideology.

“They didn’t spare even spare the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for our future,” Khawaja Asif said. “Insulting martyrs’ memorials is intolerable and unforgivable.”

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has donated Rs25 million to the martyrs of Islamabad Police.

The announcement was made on Twitter by the Islamabad Police spokesperson. He said that this donation will be distributed among the heirs of all the martyrs.

They have already dispatched letters to the heirs of the martyrs in this regard.

The donation would be distributed among heirs of the martyrs of Islamabad Police in connection with Pakistan Martyrs’ Day.

The ICT Police spokesperson thanked COAS General Asim Munir for the donation on behalf of the heirs of martyrs.

In a significant development, former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen has made the decision to establish a new political party.

This decision comes as a growing number of members have been resigning from PTI in the aftermath of the May 9 unrest.

According to sources, Jahangir Tareen will assume the role of patron-in-chief in the new party, while several influential dissatisfied leaders from PTI, including Aleem Khan, are set to join.

Additionally, prominent leaders from Karachi, Inner Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan have reportedly reached out to Jahangir Tareen.

Furthermore, political families from Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Wahari, and Multan are also expected to align themselves with this newly formed party.

Sources reveal that Jahangir Tareen, along with companions, has completed the initial groundwork for the new party.

The party secretariat in Lahore has been established in preparation for its operations as well.

In recent days, Jahangir Tareen has engaged in discussions with over 70 political leaders from the PTI, indicating an active effort to garner support for the forthcoming party.

However, the official announcement and the final date of the party’s establishment have not yet been disclosed.

The government has handed over 33 suspects to be tried in military courts following the attacks on army installations during violent protests in support of former prime minister Imran Khan, the interior minister said on Friday.

“Only 19 accused had been handed over to the military in Punjab and 14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told reporters. “The accused who are being handed over to the military are those who trespassed and entered very sensitive defense installations.”

Protests flared across Pakistan after Khan’s arrest on May 9, and while he was subsequently released on bail on numerous charges, including graft, his confrontation with the country’s powerful generals has escalated.

Protesters stormed military installations, including the house of a top general in Lahore, which was set ablaze. Thousands of people, most of them Khan’s supporters have been rounded up since.

Military courts are closed to outsiders, and no media is allowed. Rights groups have criticised the secretive nature of the process.

“The facts and figures I will produce in front of you, I am presenting it with full responsibility. I take full responsibility for that. If there is any difference to it you can confront me but you should accept these facts as they are very serious matter,” said Sanaullah.

Statistics

• 499 FIRs were registered
• 88 cases – out of 499 – were registered under Anti-Terrorism Act
• 411 cases were registered under other laws
• 3,946 people – 2,588 in Punjab and 1,099 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – were arrested under ATA
• 5,536 people have been arrested in other cases. Almost 80% have been freed on bail.
• Only 6 FIRs – out of 499 – are being processed. Two are being processed in Punjab and four in KP. A possible trial of this could be done in military court.

“An atmosphere was being created as if everything would be tried in the military courts,” he said.

The interior minister went on to add that the military authorities would investigate the case but would not take “cognisance” of it. “They will see where the Army Act or the Official Secrets Act applies,” he said.

What is the procedure

The interior minister explained the procedure of the trial in a military court.

• The military officials that investigate the case
• They will see where Army Act or the Officials Secret Act will be implemented.
• If in one ATA case there are 300 suspects, out of which 10 are like those who fall where the Official Secrets Act or Army Act were violated so that action, the military trial will be limited to that. The rest of the cases which range from 290 to 291 will be run in ordinary courts.

“Official Secrets Act and Army Act of 1952 is implemented where any building or part of that building or any office or any area whose purpose is related to defence where there are sensitive installations are present which is related to country’s defence,” he said.

“If anyone trespasses there, enters there or provokes someone to enter there or helps someone to enter so they will be guilty of the Official Secrets Act and different sections of the Army Act. They are punishable,” he said.

He wondered what kind of protest was this where people trespass sensitive buildings and damage properties. “If someone/suspect trespass in prohibited areas, then you do not need a constitutional amendment, not any new law to form of a military court. There are standing courts present there.”

He clarified that those who did not enter sensitive areas did not torch buildings, and were outside would not be tried in military courts.

Both the Official Secrets Act and the Military Act are applicable to any location associated with defence. “Jinnah House, being the residence and camp office of the Corps Commander, contained highly sensitive items. If any of these items were to be taken and utilized by a neighboring country, would it be considered a political protest?” he wondered.

Referring to unfortunate incidents that unfolded on May 9, Rana said, “He [Imran Khan] even blamed himself and his own party for that”.

PTI Chairman Imran in a tweet thanked the PDM government for putting his name on the Exit Control List.

The former prime minister wrote that he has no plans to travel abroad because he neither has any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country.

“If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our northern mountains, my favourite place on earth,” he added.

https://www.aajenglish.tv/live/politics-may-26-2023

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated that he opposes moves to ban any political party. But he stressed that a political party should have the desire to remain a political party.

“As far as the question regarding restrictions on parties is concerned, in principle no political party should be banned,” he told reporters outside his chamber in the Parliament House, Islamabad on Thursday. “I oppose it, but the political party must also have the desire to remain a political party.”

He was responding to a query pertaining to a possible ban on the PTI. The ruling alliance was mulling banning the Imran Khan-led party over violent protests of May 9 following the former prime minister’s arrest.

Footage shows that the mob clashed with police in various cities, damaged state properties, and attacked state buildings: the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps commander’s residence.

“If that political party itself wants to become a militant organisation and is not ready to distance itself from the May 9 incidents [so] whatever I want is irrelevant then the law will have to take its course,” said Bilawal.

“If that political party itself wants to become a militant organisation and is not ready to distance itself from the May 9 incidents [so] whatever I want is irrelevant then the law will have to take its course,” said Bilawal.

When asked if the PPP chairman considers PTI a political party, Bilawal said that PTI has the potential to become a political party. “I think that the action of May 9 should have never happened. Till today, the focus is on the Corps Commander and GHQ regarding these attacks. When the details will come before our nation that how coordinated attacks on our military installations were carried out, I think no Pakistani can do that. Every Pakistani will want that law should take its course and we should not allow this precedent to become a precedent.”

Bilawal, who is the foreign minister, went on to add that political parties do politics in Parliament. “Political parties do not use stones, sticks, and guns against the state.”

“I understand now that I have no place, PPP has no place, no way, that I can in any way dilute the action of the 9th of May. He [Khan] has crossed all red lines,” says Bilawal

‘Automatic reaction to Army Act’

To a query on opposition to the Army Act, he said that whenever people hear about the military court, there was an automatic reaction. He went on to add that there was a “misunderstanding” in the world, in the country and in the media, that maybe they want to do against the “terrorists” of May 9, the way military courts were established in Pakistan by amending the Constitution in the past.

“We do not want to establish a new military court, neither we are bringing any new amendment in the constitution, nor we are seeking to bring any amendment in the law of Pakistan. On the book, on the law there is an Official Secrets Act and there’s an Army Act,” he said, adding that if any law has been violated then the law must take its course.

When asked if it were constitutional courts, Bilawal said as per the Constitution without any amendment.

“You will remember that after the APS tragedy, an amendment was done for a time period. That term has expired. The Pakistan Peoples Party can never support any undemocratic and unconstitutional behaviour rather we will oppose it. As far as the existing law and Constitution are concerned, it is violated whether it is the Army Act, whether it is the Official Secret Act, and Whether it is an Anti-Terrorism Act. They don’t need my permission. Every man can lodge an FIR and no one can stop anyone.”

“Khan has never taken any political decision or democratic decision in his life and sabotaged his own decision and sabotaged the rivals’ decisions too.”

Charter of democracy

Bilawal was of the view that Khan should be aware of the need when a reporter reminded the PPP chairman of the charter of democracy agreement signed by the Sindh-ruling party and the PML-N in the past.

“You may remember that I was the most pro-dialogue before the May 9 incident and my decision was to form a committee of Pakistan Peoples Party to unite all our allies and contact them and convince them. I went by helicopter and tried to convince everyone by myself that we should have a dialogue with them and that dialogue was on the issue of holding elections on the same day all over Pakistan. That dialogue was successful. He [Khan] declared before you that elections should be held on the same day in the entire country.”

The scion of the Bhutto dynasty said that his party representatives had to convince them and Khan’s representatives had to convince him. He alleged Khan has never taken any political decision or democratic decision in his life and sabotaged his own decision and sabotaged the rivals’ decisions too.

‘PTI is like a child’

He went on to add that the PTI has never suffered the consequences of their actions and described the Khan-led party as a “child”.

They have not learned and continue to misbehave, said Bilawal.

“When he [Khan] came to power, we brought no confidence to remove him, which was a democratic method, but his behavior was undemocratic. [CJP] Justice Bandial also said that it was an undemocratic and unconstitutional action, but I stood up in the assembly and said that action should be taken against those who violate the constitution. I am sorry to say that they did not take any action,” he said.

In response to a question, Bilawal said that this question was raised in the cabinet regarding Al-Qadir Trust, but he opposed it as the country was facing multiple challenges.

About foreign funding, he added that the government had proof brought by Akbar S Babar and it had the power to ban it, but the PPP opposed to not setting any wrong precedent.

“I understand now that I have no place, PPP has no place, no way, that I can in any way dilute the action of the 9th of May,” Bilawal, “he [Khan] has crossed all red lines and the law that he brought when he was PM, the amendment to the Army Act. If he didn’t like something, he could have brought an amendment but he didn’t. PTI will have to face the existing law.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Maleeka Bokhari announced her resignation and complete ‘disassociation’ from the party on Thursday.

“As the neice of a shaheed I condemn the events of May 9,” she said in a press conference in Islamabad before announcing her resignation. She added that every Pakistani citizen held the martyrs of the army in high regard.

However, she said that the decision was not made under pressure. She added that she wanted to give time to her children and her mother, who is a cancer survivor.

“I surrendered my British citizenship in 2018 and came back to serve the country,” she said.

Bokhari had been released from the Adiala Jail earlier on Thursday.

She was arrested from Gilgit Baltistan House in Islamabad on May 12. She was released and immediately re-arrested from Adiala Jail on May 17.

Bokhari, a barrister, was elected to the National Assembly on a reserved seat in 2018. She served as the parliamentary secretary for law and justice.

** Jamshed and Mussarrat Cheema announce resignation

Jamshed Cheema and his wife, Mussarat, also announced that they would end their political journey after the events of May9.

“No attacks were planned after Imran Khan’s arrest,” Jamshed Cheema said, “But we failed to control the protest.”

“In politics you serve the nation, but not at the cost of armed forces,” he said. He added that there was no pressure on them to make the decision.

Mussarrat Cheema added that this was the longest she had stayed away from her 11-year-old son who is a cancer survivor.

She added that May 9 had been the most unfortunate day of her political career.