In a significant announcement on Friday, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, revealed her decision to sever ties with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in light of the events that unfolded on May 9. Speaking at a press conference held at the Islamabad Press Club, Awan strongly condemned the attacks on military installations and called for strict action against those responsible for the violence.
During her address, Awan underscored that her involvement in politics stemmed from a deep-rooted commitment to the nation, emphasizing that the well-being of the country should always take precedence over political interests. She alleged that the May 9 incident was a carefully orchestrated conspiracy aimed at pleasing “foreign handlers,” and she claimed that its origins could be traced back to Zaman Park.
Awan voiced her belief that Pakistan and Imran Khan could no longer coexist, criticizing the PTI leader for exploiting individuals for personal gain. Nevertheless, she reassured her unwavering dedication to remaining active in politics and vowed not to let down the people of her electoral constituency.
Earlier on the same day, renowned singer Salman Ahmad, a close aide of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan, condemned the violence that unfolded on May 9. Ahmad expressed his distress over the events following Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He called for the punishment of those involved in the mayhem in accordance with the law of the land.
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The PTI has faced a significant exodus of over two dozen leaders, workers, and ticket holders who have strongly criticized the May 9 vandalism. The rioters caused extensive damage by setting military installations, public buildings, and private properties on fire, resulting in millions of rupees worth of losses.
Adding to the list of departures, Mussarat Cheema, the Secretary of Information Punjab for PTI, and her husband Jamshed Iqbal Cheema also resigned from the party and withdrew from politics on Thursday night.
