During the government’s offensive on the opposition following the election, Asad Umar, the head of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s economic team and a trusted advisor, resigned from all party roles after the May 9 violence.
Ousted Asad Umar, the head of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s economic team and a close adviser, resigned from all party positions during the government’s crackdown on the opposition following the May 9 violence.
Umar Announces Resignation
Mr Umar, the Secretary General of Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, announced his resignation from all party positions shortly after being freed from Adiala Jail on Wednesday (May 24).
At a news conference, Umar declared that he is resigning as the secretary general and core committee member of PTI because he cannot lead the party under such circumstances
Mr Umar stated that he was not leaving his party positions “under duress.”
He did, however, clarify that he had not quit the PTI but had merely resigned from party responsibilities.
According to Mr Umar, the attack on military sites was the most dangerous thing that happened on May 9.
Umar followed Imran Khan’s claim in describing the role of the Pakistani army in the best way possible.Â
Imran Khan states that his country is in rather urgent need of the army than he is. He further asserted that if we hadn’t had such a powerful military, we would have ended up like Syria.
His resignation occurred after former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry resigned from the PTI on Wednesday (May 24).
Mr Chaudhry’s resignation followed that of former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari. Ms Mazari criticised the former Prime Minister’s supporters for attacking and torching critical defence sites across Pakistan on May 9.
Violent Demonstration on May 9
After the paramilitary Rangers arrested Mr. Khan at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9, there were widespread and aggressive protests. As a result of Mr. Khan’s detention, his followers engaged in destructive acts, damaging numerous military structures such as the Lahore Corps Commander’s House, the Mianwali airbase, and the ISI facility in Faisalabad.
On the first occasion, the mob attacked the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The police say ten people were killed in the riots, whereas Mr Khan’s party claims 40 people were killed by security forces.
Following the violence, which the powerful Army branded a “dark day” in the country’s history, thousands of Mr Khan’s followers were imprisoned.
Following the riots, several key PTI leaders, including Mr Umar, Mr Chaudary, and Ms Mazari, were imprisoned.
Umar on Pakistan’s situation
According to Mr Umar, there should be an open investigation into those involved in these incidents. Although, amongst all the PTI workers and supporters who have been arrested, many are innocent. Umar strictly points out that the innocents be released as quickly as possible.
According to the former Finance Minister, the army is made up of thousands of soldiers who give their lives for the safety of the nation, not just a few generals whose names are heard on television.
According to the pakistani officials, while Mr Khan sees the exit of key leaders as “forced divorces” at “gunpoint,” political experts believe it is an attempt to factionalize the PTI.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Sunday that individuals accused of attacking military institutions will face military trials, while those accused of attacking civilian targets will face civilian courts.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, stated on Wednesday that the government was considering a ban on Khan’s PTI party in the aftermath of his followers’ attacks on military sites following the former Prime Minister’s incarceration.
Mr Khan was deposed in April of last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he claimed was part of a US-led conspiracy to destabilise him due to his decisions regarding Russia, China, and Afghanistan in terms of international policy.
