Faisal Vawda denies leaving PTI following arrest in Karachi

The PTI leader was taken into custody for blocking Sharae Faisal on Wednesday evening

A day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) distanced itself away from a protest in Karachi that caused traffic jams on city’s major thoroughfare, party leader Faisal Vawda denied leaving the party, saying he still reports to chairman Imran Khan.

“I am not leaving PTI and still report to Imran Khan,” he told reporters on Thursday. “I have apologised for the 20-min long speech yesterday. I was protesting peacefully and should not have been arrested."



Hundreds of protesters, apparently led by Vawda blocked the main Sharae Faisal at Star Gate on Wednesday, demanding the government to ‘end Pakistan’s problems’.

PTI Karachi leader Imran Ismail said Vawda, who was taken into custody for blocking Sharae Faisal, had acted alone.

“He organised this protest in his individual capacity and the PTI had no thing to do with it,” he said, adding the party leadership had taken notice of the incident and will inquire about the matter from Vawda.

According to Traffic East SP Qamar Rizvi, hundreds of people thronged the Star Gate at around 3pm, after which traffic diversions were arranged through Karsaz Road and Rashid Minhas Road.