Pervez Khattak, former aide to ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has formed a new political party called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentarians. This decision was taken after Khattak was dismissed from the PTI. Among the 57 ex-assembly members joining Khattak are former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmood Khan and former lawmakers Shaukat Ali and Syed Muhammad Ishtiaq Urmar.
The Fallout of the PTI
This development is a sign of ongoing turmoil within the PTI, led by Imran Khan, who is facing several legal cases and disqualification threats. Many party leaders had departed from Khan, notably following the May 9th events when PTI workers created a nationwide disruption and attacked army installations.
Pervez Khattak, who had held significant roles within the PTI government as secretary general and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has disassociated himself from the party following these incidents. He was removed from the party earlier this week for failing to respond to a “show cause notice”.
Khattak’s decision to form his party rather than join existing ones, such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who have reportedly approached him, is seen as a major setback for the PTI. With the general election on the horizon, the PTI strives to regain power and form the next government.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that his government’s term would end in mid-August, potentially even earlier than their stipulated term, thereby setting the stage for new political dynamics in Pakistan.