As PTI exodus continues, Murad Raas becomes latest to jump ship

• “We never thought we would break away from the PTI,” says Ross.
• Khan’s advisers in Lahore were blamed for the party’s failure.
• Former SACM Firdous Ashiq Awan also announced his separation.

As the crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continues after the May 9 disaster, former Punjab Education Minister Murad Ras has become the latest leader to quit the party.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, Ross said that mere condemnation is not enough for what happened on May 9. “We never thought that we would be separated from the party,” he said along with other leaders including Pir Ahmed Khagah, Raja Yawar. Kamal and Chaudhry Adnan.

He blamed the party’s current disarray on Khan’s advisers in Lahore – which has faced heavy criticism after arresting hundreds of leaders and thousands of workers across the country.

The former provincial minister said that we do not believe in PTI’s politics of violence.

Ross said he and other politicians at the press conference had decided to form a group to continue working on Pakistan’s development.

Earlier today, another leader of PTI and former Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan also announced his separation from the party.

Condemning the May 9 violence, he claimed it was planned at Khan’s Zaman Park residence.

Heat

Khan’s party is feeling the heat of the state’s power after his angry PTI activists attacked military installations, including the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore and the general headquarters in Rawalpindi, following his arrest on May 9 – the day the army Referred to as “Black Day”.

Several party leaders and thousands of activists have been arrested in connection with the violent protests, and the military has insisted that those involved in attacks on military installations be prosecuted under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.

Khan’s close aide Asad Umar has resigned from the posts of secretary general and core committee member citing the current situation.

Many party leaders and legislators, including Shireen Mazari, Aamir Mehmood Kayani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mehmood Maulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, Fayyazul Hasan Chauhan, Malika Bukhari, Musrat and Jamshed Cheema, have publicly condemned the attacks on state institutions and announced Is. Leaving the former ruling party since the May 9 vandalism.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said the federal government is considering banning the PTI following evidence of “pre-planned” and “premeditated” attacks on public property and military installations by party supporters. coordinated” attacks.