Several high-profile leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, have made a firm commitment to remain loyal to the party despite a recent wave of prominent members leaving.
These departures came in the wake of violent incidents involving PTI workers on May 9, which occurred following the arrest of party leader Imran Khan. Many leaders have chosen to distance themselves from Khan, either by resigning or temporarily stepping away from politics.
Yasmin Rashid, who appeared before a court, firmly stated that she would not follow the path of those who left the party, emphasizing her unwavering support for PTI and Imran Khan. Similarly, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, speaking outside an anti-terrorism court, expressed that leaving the PTI is unthinkable for him.
He pledged to stand by Imran Khan and the party, dismissing the departure of others as inconsequential. Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, in a brief response to reporters, reiterated his dedication as a party worker and affirmed his commitment to the PTI.
The PTI has witnessed the resignations and departures of several senior members, including Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Umar, who distanced themselves from the party in the aftermath of the May 9 incidents.
Fawad Chaudhry explicitly condemned the violence and announced his decision to take a break from politics, resulting in his resignation from his party position. Asad Umar, a trusted confidant of Imran Khan, also stepped down from his leadership role within the party.
Furthermore, other PTI leaders and lawmakers, such as Shireen Mazari, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, have publicly denounced the attacks on state institutions and announced their departure from the party in response to the May 9 vandalism.
The tensions between Imran Khan and the government have intensified due to the attacks on military installations. The government, along with the military, has expressed its intention to try the violent protesters in military courts, a move that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations.
In response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that the federal government is considering imposing a ban on the PTI after receiving evidence of organized attacks on public properties and military installations carried out by PTI supporters.
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