PTI refutes Asad Umar's claim of ideological differences

Information secretary says Umar 'remembered' to resign when PTI was targeted

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday released a statement refuting former party secretary general Asad Umar’s claims that he left his position because of the PTI chief’s ‘confrontational policies’.

PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan issued a statement shortly after Umar told a private news channel that he quit the office of PTI secretary general due to the political strategy implemented by the party’s chairperson in the aftermath of the May 9 protests.

During the talk show, Umar said that the job of the party’s secretary general was not to give free advice but to implement the strategy which was decided. He questioned how could he implement a strategy he was “opposing”, adding that that was the reason for his resignation.

He continued that after the war of 1971, Pakistan had not witnessed such instability and urged all stakeholders to take a step back as the nation stood at a “pivotal point”.

According to the former finance minister, due to the situation in the country, people had to step down from their ideological perspectives and compromise to reach a solution. Umar added that he did not agree with the strategy the PTI chief employed after May 9 and further said that he had been opposing the party leader’s strategy even prior to the riots.

Retaliating to Umar’s comments, the new PTI information secretary said that there was evident “confusion” in Umar’s thoughts. He maintained that the former leader could have separated from the party when he developed differences with the PTI and its chief, which would have been “appropriate”.

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“Now, when the PTI is being targeted under a plan, he remembered to resign,” Hasan said in his statement, adding that the resignation may serve Umar’s personal interests, not the party’s.

He also disputed Umar’s allegations that the PTI refused to hold dialogues and negotiate with other political parties, maintaining that “Asad Umar himself used to say these political parties would never discuss anything other than an NRO” (National Reconciliation Order).

Hasan further said that other political parties only objective was to save themselves from corruption cases.

He continued that Umar’s perspective on the finalisation of a deal between the incumbent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and PTI – as per the Supreme Court’s orders – showed his ambiguity.

سابق سیکرٹری جنرل پاکستان تحریک انصاف اسد عمر کے کاشف عباسی کو آج رات دیے گئے انٹرویو پر سیکرٹری اطلاعات تحریک انصاف رؤوف حسن کا ردعمل pic.twitter.com/cUQzUHgIxq

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 19, 2023

Hasan maintained that the PTI depicted “exceptional flexibility” by operating within the laws of the Constitution and proposed a constitutional amendment to secure a conclusive resolution of the dialogue.

“Asad Umar is free to discuss his indefensible decision but should not misconstrue facts,” he stated adding that the former secretary general’s departure from his position would have carried more weight if it came prior to the PTI facing difficult times.