NAROWAL, May 29, 2023: As desertion from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continued, a ticket-holder from Narowal, Sajjad Mahais, on Monday parted ways with embattled Imran Khan over May 9 mayhem.
Mr Mahais made the announcement in a video statement, calling the May 9 a “darkest day” in the history of Pakistan. “Army and its institution are backbone of our country,” he said while demanding actions against all those involved in attacking these institutions and military installations.
“I strongly condemn the disturbing incidents,” he said, adding the May 9 events had forced him to leave the PTI.
“I am stepping down from all PTI positions and withdrawing as part’s candidate in PP-49,” Sajjad Mahais said.
It is recalled that the outgoing politician had contested the 2018 general elections on the PTI ticket in the same constituency.
So far, several PTI leaders, including Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Fawad Chaudhry and Shireen Mazari, have left the party after the government launched a crackdown on the Imran Khan’s supporters over violent protests.
On May 9, violent protests erupted after Mr Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s House and the Mianwali airbase in response to the arrest of the PTI chief.
The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also stormed by the mob for the first time, an action that was widely condemned by the civil and military leadership of the country.
Thousands of PTI supporters were arrested following the violence that the Pakistan Army and ruling coalition described as a “dark day” in the history of the country.