Pakistan Reader# 601, 24 May 2023
Taffy Tonia
What has happened?
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been witnessing an exodus of leaders. More than 25 leaders have left the party during the last two weeks. On 23 May, the PTI Chairman reacted to the resignation of PTI leaders and termed his party leaders' exodus as a “forced divorce”. He said: "We had all heard about forced marriages in Pakistan, but for PTI, a new phenomenon has emerged: forced divorces. Also wondering where all the human rights organizations in the country disappeared."
Leaders who have recently left the party so far include the following: Former federal minister Shireen Mazari, Former provincial minister Fayazul Hassan Chohan, former federal health minister and founding member of PTI Aamer Mahmood Kiani, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain (brother of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain), former federal minister Malik Amin Aslam, former provincial minister Hisham Inamullah Malik, PTI West Punjab President Faizullah Kamoka, PTI Sindh Vice President Mehmood Moulvi, PTI Karachi President Aftab Siddiqui, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Jay Parkash, Sanjay Gangwani, Imran Shah, former spokesperson for the KP Chief Minister and adviser on information Ajmal Wazir, Usman Tarakai, and Malik Jawad Hussain
Shireen Mazari’s resignation not only from the PTI but also of quitting politics should be the biggest of the developments so far. Mazari in her announcment of leave the party, said: “Not only the May 9 and 10 violence, but I’ve always condemned every kind of violence especially against state institutions and symbols like the General Headquarters, Supreme Court, and Parliament.”
What does it mean?
The wave of resignations marks a turmoil for PTI, which was toppled April last year. Will the exodus continue? The leaders who have decided to leave has mentioned the violence on 9 May as the primary reason. Is that true, or are they being forced as Imran claims?
References
Asim Yasin, “PTI leaders lining up to join PPP: Kundi,” The News International,24 May 2023
“Ex-MNA Khawaja Ghulam Rasool Koreja Quits PTI, Joins PPP,” The News International,23 May 2023
Ikram Junaidi, “Under pressure, more PTI figures ‘jump ship’,” Dawn,24 May 2023
“Fayyaz Chohan quits PTI over party's 'policy of violence,” The Express Tribune, 23 May 2023
“In first major blow for PTI, Shireen Mazari leaves party and quits ‘active politics’,” Dawn, 24 May 2023