PTI’s Pervez Khattak Resigns Amidst Political Crisis

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), sr. Leader Pervez Khattak declared late Thursday stepped down as president of the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter.

During a press conference in Islamabad, the veteran PTI leader expressed that, given the current political turmoil, it was challenging to maintain his role as the party’s KP chapter president.

Khattak assured that he would disclose his plans after discussing them with his peers and party associates.

This announcement closely follows the arrest of PTI President Parvez Elahi by anti-corruption officials outside his home in Lahore.

After careful deliberation, Khattak reiterated that his decision to relinquish the party post was made.

As the former defense minister, he also recalled his condemnation of the attack on military installations on May 9.

Interestingly, this press conference from Khattak follows a statement from the spokesperson of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, stating difficulties in contacting both politicians.

Rumors had been circulating that both leaders may be asked to leave the party, sparked by reports that they were unreachable after going to meet an individual at an undisclosed location at 11 am.

However, Khattak refuted these rumors in the press conference, stating that his decision resulted from careful thought and not due to external pressures.

Qaiser’s political future remains uncertain as he was present at the press conference but made no statements.

In the wake of the May 9 unrest, several party leaders, including Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, Aamir Mehmood Kiani and others, have distanced themselves from party chief Imran Khan.

Like his colleague Asad Umar, who resigned from his party positions, Khattak only stepped down from the party position, not leaving the party entirely. Khattak continues to serve as a part of the negotiation committee formed by the party chairman to engage in talks with the current government to resolve the political impasse.