Mahmood Maulvi, a PTI MNA, leaves the group
KARACHI: Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Mahmood Baqi Maulvi, who had been elected on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket, declared on Tuesday his departure from the party in the wake of nationwide riots that ensued following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan.
The arrest of Khan took place on May 9 at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), executed by the Rangers based on warrants issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The party’s supporters unleashed a wave of chaos across the country for several days, with military installations coming under attack.
During a press conference in Karachi, Maulvi formally resigned from his position in the lower house of parliament and announced his departure from the PTI. He emphasized, “We may change political parties, but we cannot change our army. I have never opposed the army, nor will I ever do so in the future.”
Furthermore, Maulvi disclosed that party members had been discussing the possibility of marching to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi in the event of Khan’s arrest. “I advised against confronting the army because there was no justifiable reason for it,” he stated.
Maulvi clarified that he neither knew the individuals involved in the violent protests, nor did he partake in them. He condemned the actions of those responsible for the riots, deeming them “inexcusable.” “Engaging in hostilities against the army is unacceptable anywhere,” he added.
In addition, he made it clear that he had no intentions of joining another political party. Instead, he expressed his plans to establish either a social welfare organization or a new political party.
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Maulvi also demanded that the PTI publicly announce its commitment to punishing all those who were involved in the riots.
The MNA’s decision comes in the aftermath of PTI workers expressing their outrage over Khan’s arrest. Khan, who has criticized the military since his removal from power in April, distanced the PTI from the violent protestors, asserting that his supporters did not incite violence. The situation gradually stabilized after Khan was released on court orders.
A day earlier, the top military officials pledged to prosecute the protesters and those who abetted them under applicable laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act. The army referred to the attacks on military installations on May 9 as a “Black Day.”
