In another significant development, Imran Ismail, a founding member and former Sindh governor of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced his exit, stepping down from all party responsibilities.
“This represents my final political news conference. Being one of PTI’s founding members, I implore those who formerly advised Imran Khan to reflect on their actions. The ones who offered guidance to Imran Khan need to reconsider their past decisions,” Ismail shared during a press meeting in Karachi following his release on bail by an anti-terrorism court.
Ismail, known for lending his voice to the party’s well-known anthem, “Tabdeeli Aaye Ray,” faced arrest for inciting violence during the protests on May 9. However, he was subsequently freed on a surety bond worth Rs50,000.
He insisted that individuals implicated in the May 9 events should be held accountable but acknowledged that the investigation is yet to confirm the identities of those involved.
“I voluntarily resign from all PTI positions and surrender my basic party membership. As for my political journey’s future, I am yet to make a conclusive decision. I bid farewell to you, Khan Sahib, and PTI,” he affirmed.
Ismail’s departure adds to the growing tally of PTI members leaving the former ruling party. Earlier in the day, Ali Zaidi and Makhdoom Khushro Bakhtiar also announced their decision to break ties with the party.
The May 9 violence has led to an intensified crackdown on PTI, resulting in several PTI leaders, including key allies of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, exiting the party. The departures have led the former premier to refer to them as “compulsory splits.”
While court orders temporarily freed some leaders, many were re-arrested, implying that the crackdown is far from subsiding.
Several prominent PTI members, including Shireen Mazari, Aamir Kiani, Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Musarrat Cheema, Abrarul Haq, among others, have announced their split from the former ruling party.
Asad Umar, a trusted aide of the PTI chief, resigned from his roles as secretary-general and core committee member, attributing his decision to the prevailing situation. His resignation came close on the heels of Fawad Chaudhry, another close confidant of Imran, also exiting PTI.
Yet, senior PTI leaders like Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Mehmoodur Rasheed have voiced their steadfast support for the party chief, reasserting their resolve to stay with PTI.
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