Title: Asad Umar resigns from PTI, 'completely' quits politics
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost another senior leader on Saturday after former planning minister Asad Umar resigned from the party’s basic membership, announcing to quit politics too.
Asad had earlier resigned as the party’s secretary general following the May 9 riots.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the former minister wrote, “After more than one decade in public life, I have decided to completely quit politics.” Having once been a close aide to PTI chairman Imran Khan, the former minister also announced letting go off his basic membership of the PTI.
After more than one decade in public life, I have decided to completely quit politics.
As i had already stated publicly earlier that i disagree with the policy of confrontation with state institutions, and such a policy has led to a serious collission with state institutions,…
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 11, 2023
Umar is the latest in a series of PTI leaders who have resigned from the party following a nationwide crackdown on it, with numerous prominent leaders arrested in response to the May 9 riots that ensued after Imran's arrest on the day.
Since his press conference on May 24, where he denounced the events of May 9 and announced his resignation from party positions, Umar has not shown any inclination to join other parties, including the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party or the PTI Parliamentarians, both of which have been actively accepting PTI defectors.
In reference to his press conference, Umar added in his tweet that he had previously made it clear publicly that he disagrees with “the policy of confrontation with state institutions.”
Read PML-N ready to talk to PTI minus ‘May 9 gang’: Sanaullah
He expressed concern that such a policy has resulted in a serious clash between state institutions, which is not in the best interests of the country. Umar took the opportunity to express gratitude to those who supported him in his public life, particularly acknowledging the NA-54 team and the voters who elected him twice.
"I have made every effort to serve the constituency from which I was elected. May Allah's blessings be upon the Pakistani nation,” the former minister concluded.
PTI laments uptick in ‘atrocities’ before polls
The PTI on Friday said the “state's atrocities” against the party had intensified after the date of the next general elections was decided.
In a statement issued after meeting of the PTI’s core committee, the party maintained that the series of "kidnapping of PTI leaders for statements" by some state institutions was still under way.
“The inaction of the ECP and caretaker government on the ‘enforced disappearance’ of [PTI] Central Additional Secretary General Ali Nawaz Awan is the worst example of lawlessness,” it continued.
The PTI accused the ECP and caretaker government of completely failing to fulfill their constitutional duty and being the “key facilitators” in the state agenda of “deviating” from the Constitution.
It added that the ECP and interim set-up should realise their sensitive duties and instead of being a "part of conspiracies against democracy", they should play their role for its survival and protection.
The PTI core committee demanded that the series of "illegal" raids, arrests, harassment as well as enforced disappearances of party activists and leaders across the country should be stopped immediately.
The PTI reiterated its demand to conduct the trial of cases against party chief and deposed premier Imran Khan in open court in the presence of local and foreign media.
It continued that there was no constitutional or legal justification for conducting the trial against the PTI chief in secret or in jail.
Published Date: 11-Nov-2023
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