— Defending military, another group of ‘patriotic’ ex-Punjab lawmakers desert opposition party
— Preventive detention of Qureshi, Ejaz, and Maleeka under MPO declared unlawful
— Diplomatic passports of nine PTI members, Rasheed revoked
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Ali Haider Zaidi, the president of the Sindh chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and former minister Khusro Bakhtyar became the latest high-profile members to sever ties with the opposition party as the government seeks to destroy former prime minister Imran Khan’s support ahead of elections.
A group of former provincial lawmakers including retired Col. Hashim Dogar from Kasur, Rai Taimoor Bhatti from Jhang, Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq from Sialkot, Mamoon Jaffar Tarar from Hafizabad, and Sardar Mansab Dogar from Pakpattan also left the party.
While Bakhtyar only separated himself from the party, Zaidi on Saturday took the more drastic step of resigning from politics altogether, along with his party positions.
Conveying his decision through a video message, Zaidi, who had initially entered politics with a “vision for a better Pakistan,” expressed his strong condemnation of the events that transpired following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9.
Emphasising the significance of the military, he regarded them as a source of national pride and credited them with ensuring the peaceful slumber of citizens through their dedicated protection of the country’s borders.
The arrest of Khan, in a land dispute involving a property tycoon, has unleashed a series of resignations within the opposition party. The incident, accompanied by violent protests, has prompted a mass exodus of leaders, including high-profile figures closely associated with Khan, such as Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudhry.
Commenting on the protests, Zaidi said that those responsible for the “regrettable incidents”, a reference to protests against Khan’s arrest, must be held accountable.
Having recently been transferred to a jail in Jacobabad, the former minister shared that his contemplation had led him to make the arduous decision of stepping away from politics. Zaidi announced his resignation from his prominent roles within the party, including Sindh president, core committee member, and member of the National Assembly.
While bidding farewell to the political arena, Zaidi expressed his commitment to continue serving Pakistan and striving to attract foreign investments, a role he had successfully undertaken before venturing into politics.
Eager to contribute to the nation’s economic growth, he expressed his intention to resume the task of bringing foreign exchange to Pakistan. The former minister concluded his video statement with a resounding slogan in support of the armed forces, symbolizing his unwavering respect for their service.
Separately, in a video message on Saturday, Bakhtyar revealed that he had warned the top leadership about the potential harm associated with the party’s new political strategy of confrontation with the military over a year ago.
Khusro Bakhtiar quits PTI, parts ways with imran khan, says impossible for him to continue with IK & the only way forward is away from division and hate employed by PTI pic.twitter.com/hlfgoVKGLn
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) May 26, 2023
Expressing his concerns, the former planning minister explained that the PTI’s adoption of this policy had led him to distance himself from its political landscape.
He further disclosed his decision to step down from his positions within the party, including his membership in the core committee and his presidency of southern Punjab.
He expressed his deep unease with the distressing events of May 9, which played a significant role in his “growing disillusionment with the political philosophy” of the party. Bakhtyar said he could no longer continue along this path, asserting his belief that the future of Pakistan lies outside the realm of division and partisanship.
VIOLENT PROTESTS DENOUNCED
Shahzad Waseem, a senator of the party, strongly denounced the violent protests, involving attacks on military installations, but affirmed his commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities as the opposition leader in the upper house of parliament.
During a news briefing in Islamabad, Waseem acknowledged the sacrifices and dedicated efforts of the military in defending the nation. He expressed his outright disapproval of the attack on the house of Lahore Corps’ commander, describing it as “unacceptable.”
Waseem emphasised: “You cannot achieve progress by causing harm to your own foundation.”
The senator said it is his duty to uphold his parliamentary role as the opposition leader, even in these testing times. He affirmed his determination to remain a part of the opposition party, demonstrating his unwavering support for the party.
Thousands of rank-and-file supporters have also been rounded up under the anti-terrorism act.
In Lahore, a grassroots PTI supporter said her son was arrested after protesting peacefully.
“It was clear that he had been beaten and was visibly scared,” the housewife told AFP on condition of anonymity. “He hasn’t set foot outside the house since then. He’s received calls from unknown numbers warning him that he’s being watched.”
Amnesty International said “overly broad and vague anti-terrorism provisions” are being used and “a pall of fear hangs over Khan’s supporters following the arbitrary arrests of many opposition leaders”.
‘ILLEGAL’ ARRESTS
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) delivered separate verdicts declaring the preventive detentions of deputy chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and former party member Maleeka Bokhari under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law as “illegal”.
Issuing the verdicts, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said that “for detailed reasons to be recorded later, the instant writ petition is allowed.” The court set aside the detention order issued by the district magistrate, citing non-compliance with the law.
These rulings highlight the court’s determination to uphold legal standards and ensure that arrests are carried out in accordance with established procedures, the party said.
Separately, the government has also revoked the diplomatic passports of nine party leaders, including Awami Muslim League (AML) chairman and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, declaring them as “cancelled and inactivated.”
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) May 27, 2023
The affected PTI leaders whose passports have been revoked include Aon Abbas Bappi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umer, Pervez Khattak, Farrukh Habib, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Muhammad Khan, Zartaj Gul, and Azam Khan Swati.
It is noteworthy that Ahmed, along with the aforementioned PTI leaders, remains aligned with Khan and has not defected from the embattled party.
