Former Special Assistant to CM Punjab Firdous Ashiq Awan has become the latest PTI leader to call it quits. She announced her resignation from PTI in a press conference today.
According to the details, Firdous Ashiq Awan said that it is out of the question to stick to the party after the May 9 incident. She said that those who disrespected martyrs attacked Pakistan’s foundation and ideology. She also claimed that the riots following Imran Khan’s arrest were “planned at Zaman Park”.
Firdous Ashiq Awan stated that she had joined the party with a vision to aid Pakistan’s prosperity but the objectives of the party had changed now. She then came down hard on PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying Pakistan’s progress and Imran Khan are not compatible with each other.
Read more: Imran Khan takes firm action, cancels party membership of all defectors
She also claimed that she was on self-exile from the PTI over the last year over differences in her and Imran Khan’s narratives.
“Imran’s agenda is like poison for Pakistan and I am a victim of this agenda as well. He becomes an enemy to his friends first,” Firdous Ashiq Awan said while alleging that the PTI chief used people like “tissue papers” and then discarded them when “his work is done”.
“This is the reason why PTI has reached a dead end today,” she further added.
On the other hand, Firdous Ashiq Awan said her political journey will continue and vowed to keep working for the nation.
“My journey with PTI comes to an end today … God willing, our political journey will continue because the reason for our politics is the well-being of the people of our constituency,” the former SAPM to CM Punjab said.
Firdous Ashiq Awan leaves PTI. She made serious allegations about the 9th May attacks on military installations calling it a mindset developed and supported by PTI. She also said that the plan of attacks were devised at Zaman Park.
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) May 26, 2023
The May 9th protests against Imran Khan’s arrest had resulted in attacks on military installations, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The vandalism and arson had been strongly condemned and both the government and the army vowed strict action against the miscreants.
Read more: Lahore Police identifies over 300 women linked to arson at Jinnah House
Since then, several PTI leaders and lawmakers have quit the party while condemning the May 9th violence. A close aide of Imran Khan, Asad Umar, has relinquished his posts of secretary general and core committee member, citing the ongoing situation.
The long list of several party leaders and lawmakers — including Fawad Chaudhary, Shireen Mazari, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Maleeka Bokhari among others — have publicly denounced the attacks on the state installations and announced leaving the former ruling party since the May 9 vandalism.