Khattak finally bows out, citing ill health

PTI-P executive committee appoints Mahmood Khan as new party chief

PESHAWAR:

Days after announcing his intention to take a break from politics, PTI-Parliamentarians chief Pervez Khattak on Saturday relinquished both the chairmanship of his party and its basic membership, citing health reasons.

Following a government crackdown on Imran Khan’s PTI after the May 9, 2023 incidents of vandalism, Pervez Khattak parted ways with the former ruling party.

He, along with a number of PTI defectors, later laid the foundation of the PTI-Parliamentarian.

However, the party faced a humiliating defeat in the February 8 general elections, winning only two seats in the provincial legislature of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

On February 12, several news outlets reported that Khattak, as well as IPP chief Jahangir Tareen and JI chief Sirajul Haq had resigned from their positions.

However, it was revealed on Saturday that Khattak had sent his resignation to the PTI-Parliamentarian’s central executive committee, stating that he could not continue with his responsibilities in the party due to his ill health.

According to the PTI-Parliamentarians secretary of information, Ziaullah Bangash, the party's central executive committee has accepted Khattak’s resignation and appointed Mahmood Khan as the new chairman of the nascent party.

“Mahmood Khan will soon take charge and manage the affairs of the party,” he said.

Khan, who served as the K-P chief minister from 2018 to 2023, also belonged to the PTI before jumping ship in the wake of the massive crackdown during the ruling of the last coalition government.