SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza resigns from PTI committees

He also plans to resign from the National Assembly and submit his resignation to Imran Khan in an upcoming meeting

Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the head of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), announced his resignation from two key committees of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday. 

Raza stepped down from PTI’s Core Committee and Political Committee, expressing his dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of the recent protests and the subsequent retreat from D-Chowk in Islamabad. 

He also plans to resign from his seat in the National Assembly, with sources indicating that he will formally tender his resignation to PTI founder Imran Khan in their upcoming meeting.

The resignations come amid increasing scrutiny of PTI leadership after party workers were forced to retreat from Islamabad, failing to secure the release of party founder Imran Khan. The retreat, coupled with the failure to sustain the protest, has led to widespread criticism within the party and the public.

The turmoil within PTI has deepened following a large-scale operation by authorities against protesters in Islamabad, which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of PTI workers. The crackdown, which took place after PTI's "do or die" protest, left the party reeling and facing internal divisions.

Sources suggested that Raza’s resignation could be the first in a series, with expectations that more PTI leaders, disillusioned by the party’s handling of the protest and internal leadership struggles, may follow suit.