- Asad Umar leaves the position as PTI’s leader.
ISLAMABAD: Asad Umar, a prominent leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced his resignation as the party’s secretary general during a press conference in Islamabad. Umar had served in this position for the past 17 months but clarified that he was not leaving the party altogether. However, he stated that given the current circumstances, it was personally challenging for him to continue fulfilling his leadership duties within the party.
Umar explained that his resignation was influenced by his outspoken nature, as he believed it would be difficult to express his personal opinions while holding an official position within the party. His press conference came shortly after his release from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, following an order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The court had required Umar to provide an undertaking stating that he would not participate in any violent protests upon his release.
The arrest of Umar and other PTI leaders occurred in the wake of violent riots that erupted nationwide following the detention of PTI chairman Imran Khan on May 9 in relation to the Al-Qadir Trust case. Umar had been arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law, but the IHC declared his arrest null and void. The court cautioned Umar that any deviation from the undertaking would have severe consequences for his political career.
The PTI has faced significant criticism in recent days due to the violent protests led by its supporters, including attacks on important military installations such as the Lahore Corps Commanders House and the General Headquarters entrance. Thousands of PTI workers have been arrested, and legal proceedings have commenced under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act to try those involved in the attacks on military facilities, as announced by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.
Following the May 9 violence, several PTI leaders, including senior vice presidents Fawad Chaudhry and Shireen Mazari, have resigned from their positions. Umar’s resignation sparked speculation among journalists about his potential bid for the party chairman position in the future, considering that he had not completely severed ties with the PTI. Such speculations hinted at the potential leadership dynamics within the party post-Imran Khan.
As the PTI navigates through these challenges and internal changes, concerns about the party’s unity and future direction have emerged. The resignation of Asad Umar, a prominent figure within the PTI, and the departures of other key leaders have raised questions about the party’s stability and its ability to maintain its political influence.
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