PTI chief strikes conciliatory tone as party implodes

LAHORE:

After the PTI suffered another major setback as two of its stalwarts – Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry – distanced themselves from the party, Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday struck a reconciliatory tone, saying he was constituting a committee to hold talks “with anyone in power” and ready to “step back from his position” – a reference to his stance of holding early elections in the country.

A day earlier, Shireen Mazari announced not only quitting the PTI but also active politics, saying her health and daughter suffered significantly during her 12-day incarceration.

On Wednesday, senior politician and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry announced parting ways with the PTI and its chief.

Fawad joined a long list of PTI leaders who had announced quitting the PTI following the May 9 vandalism and violent protests across the country — hours after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Imran in the National Crime Agency £190 million scandal.

"[With] ref[erence] to my earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from party position and parting ways with Imran Khan," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

After Fawad, PTI Secretary General Umar announced stepping down from all party positions shortly after he was released from Adiala Jail.

"Not possible for me to lead party under these circumstances. I am resigning as secretary general and core committee member of PTI," he said while addressing a news conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad.

To a question, Umar clarified that he had not left the PTI but only resigned from his role as the secretary general and core committee member.

He emphasised that his decision was voluntary and not influenced by any “external pressure”.

Lamenting the May 9 incidents, the former finance minister said the most dangerous thing that happened on the day was that the military installations were attacked.

"I think Imran Khan himself has best explained the army’s status in Pakistan. He said that we would have seen similar fate like Syria’s if it was not for a strong army like ours. Khan Saab said that my country needs my army more than me."

He said the incidents of May 9 were not only condemnable, but also a point to ponder on where “we have come”.

Read Imran is mastermind of May 9 riots, says PM Shehbaz

"I feel like there should be transparent investigation against those involved in these incidents. But thousands of PTI workers and supporters were arrested, a lot of them are innocent... it is also important that they are released as soon as possible," he added.

Umar said the army did not comprise just a few generals whose names were heard on TV, but thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the safety of the nation.

"My family has been affiliated with the army for the last three generations. From the 1965 war to the war on terror, members of my family have been participating in these wars over the years," he added.

During his speech, he addressed the five major stakeholders in the country – Pakistan Army, judiciary, PTI, Pakistan Democratic Movement, and the people of Pakistan.

The former minister said if elections were held, he believed that the PDM would form government in Sindh and Balochistan.

However, he added that politics of the ruling alliance had been badly affected in the past 13 months.

Umar said Pakistan was currently facing the most dangerous situation since the fall of Bangladesh in 1971. "It is extremely important that we all sit down and find a solution to this crisis," he added.

When asked if he blamed Imran for the events of May 9, he said: “I have told you in detail all that has happened in the past 13 months. Do I think all this destruction has come solely because of one man? No, I don’t think so.”

Earlier in the evening, Umar was “discreetly” released from detention in Adiala Jail after his arrest was nullified by the Islamabad High Court.

Ordering his immediate release, the high court also barred police from arresting the PTI senior leader, who was detained under the MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) ordinance, for two days.

The court ordered his release after Umar submitted a sworn statement assuring that he would not partake in any procession of his party that infringes upon Section 144.

The statement mentioned that contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against him in case of violation.

Umar exited the main gate of the prison without making a public appearance and left silently in a private car via Gate One. Journalists and media teams waiting at Gate Five and Three were left in anticipation.

Meanwhile, addressing his supporters from his Zaman Park Lahore residence via video link, the PTI chairman maintained that he would give another chance to dialogue and constitute a committee, on Thursday (today), to deliberate with those who have power in the country.

“Despite sincere effort, we are unable to understand how Pakistan will benefit if elections are held in October. Even I am ready to get minus from politics if they convince my team that it will benefit the country,” the PTI chief said.

Read more Govt considering banning PTI: Khawaja Asif

Imran had dissolved the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies –where PTI was in power – in January this year in a bid to force the ruling coalition government to hold early elections.

The incumbent regime had been insistent that polls would be held in October when the remaining assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan would complete their constitutional term.

During his address, Imran observed that the judges of the Supreme Court were the last hope of the nation.

“Democracy is being dismantled in the country”, he said, adding that the Constitution of Pakistan had been breached after May 14.

He was referring to the apex court’s ruling of fixing May 14 as date for Punjab Assembly elections, which could not be implemented.

“There is a rule of jungle in Pakistan. Now, it is the responsibility of the judges of the top court to get united to protect democracy otherwise history will never forgive you.”

Giving hope to his workers and supporters, Imran metaphorically said: “Though the night is dark but you have to face this with courage and patience. I am ready to face anything but will stand till the last ball. I know this darkness cannot stay long. I am not willing to surrender and accept the same from my workers and supporters.”

He stressed that dying for freedom was better than accepting slavery.

On the crackdown launched against his party, the PTI chief stated that fundamental rights had been suspended in the country.

“Over 10,000 workers of my party have been put behind bars. Around 25 have embraced martyrdom while hundreds are suffering from bullet injuries in hospitals. Even the prisoners of war have some fundamental right but the PTI workers have none on the pretext of setting corps commander’s house in Lahore on fire,” he lamented.

He questioned why “champions of human rights” in the country were silent over the “ongoing fascism”.

“Why media is silent over current atrocities. Today, it is happening with the PTI. Tomorrow it will happen with others. No one will remain safe. Those who believe that they [can] kill an ideology with oppression do not know the human history,” he maintained.

The former premier highlighted that human rights violations in the country were on the rise as he spoke about the “treatment meted” out to former PTI lawmaker Shireen Mazari and other women party workers and supporters.

“This does not have any precedence in the country’s history. The situation is so ugly that you cannot come out of jail unless you speak the ‘magic word’ of disassociating yourself with the PTI in front of the media.”

Imran said his party workers, who were incarcerated, had complained that their “children would be picked” if they did not dissociate themselves from the PTI.

“And as soon as you announce parting ways with the PTI, everything becomes normal. It will not harm the party but democracy in the country.”

He once again demanded an independent investigation into the May 9 events, saying faces of “real culprits” would be unveiled whenever transparent probe was carried out.

Deliberating on the National Crime Agency £190 million scandal, the former premier said that NAB was claiming that he had benefitted from the amount, which was deposited in the Supreme Court’s account.

“It was the federal cabinet’s decision to maintain the confidentiality of the transaction as agreement between a real estate tycoon and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), otherwise, this amount could not come to Pakistan as we have to prove in the UK’s court that this money is laundered from Pakistan. We were told that Pakistan had spent around $100 million on account of lawyers and legal fees but could not bring back a single penny. The cabinet decided to bring back this amount in the SCP (Supreme Court of Pakistan) account. Now, if NAB believes something wrong has happened in this transaction, it should contest the case in the UK court and get this amount in public treasury.”

So far, Fawad, Mazari, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Amir Kayani, Jai Prakash, Aftab Siddiqui and Sanjay Gangwani are among those who have left the PTI.