As PTI faces blowback from the federal government and the army over the violent protests of 9th May, another PTI member has decided to jump ship.
Former MNA and PTI’s additional secretary, Aamer Kiani, has reportedly decided to part ways with the party. In fact, Kiani has not only decided to quit the PTI but also announced to end his political career, claiming that he will not join any political party, including the PDM.
While speaking to the media, former PTI MNA Aamer Kiani said he took the decision in the wake of the attack on the central military installations in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Read more: Shireen Mazari’s rearrest: Public backlash intensifies as daughter exposes police torture
He says he belongs to a military family, and expressed deep regrets at the attack on the GHQ in Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander House in Lahore.
Furthermore, Aamer Kiani revealed that he has not been in contact with PTI Chairman Imran Khan for a month, nor has he met him.
عامر کیانی سے بات ہوئی ہے، انہوں نے تصدیق کی ہے کہ وہ پی ٹی آئی چھوڑ رہے ہیں، نہ صرف پارٹی بلکہ ہمیشہ کیلئے سیاست چھوڑنے کا بھی اعلان کر دیا، میں نے پوچھا کیا عمران خان کو فیصلے پر اعتماد میں لیا؟ انہوں نے کہا میرا ایک ماہ سے کوئی رابطہ ہے نہ ان کو ملنے گیا ہوں۔ سیاست میں جتنا… pic.twitter.com/Rga5nNyjM3
— Abdul Qadir (@AbdulqadirARY) May 17, 2023
Aamer Kiani was elected from the NA-16 constituency on a PTI ticket in 2018 and was considered a close aide of the PTI chief. He was also the former president of PTI’s North Punjab chapter. The former health minister is the second PTI leader to jump ship after Mahmood Baqi Maulvi.
Tuesday, Mahmood Moulvi announced his resignation from PTI while addressing a press conference in Karachi. He became the first PTI leader to leave the party after PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest.
“I have never gone against, nor will I ever go against the army,” he said. Mahmood Moulvi further revealed that he might join a charitable organization or form a new political party.
Read more: Will never go against army – Mahmood Moulvi quits PTI
On May 9th, violent protests were triggered in Pakistan after PTI Chairman Imran Khan was sent to jail in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Clashes erupted between protestors and the police authorities which also resulted in attacks on state and military property, for instance, the GHQ.
In response, the military’s top brass deliberated upon the recent law and order situation that a political party’s leadership exploited for political gains and vowed to deal with them in the strongest possible terms, which includes justice through trial under relevant laws of the country, including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.