Minister slams Imran as more abandon PTI

KHAWAJA ASIF ACCUSES FORMER PM OF ECONOMIC, DEFENCE FAILURES

DThe deposed prime minister had said he was ready to speak to “anyone who is in power” after his party’s top leaders began jumping ship following the May 9 riots.

efence Minister Khawaja Asif yesterday said that those who could not bear the burden of party chairman Imran Khan’s “mistakes” are bidding adieu to the former ruling party.

He was commenting on the number of leaders leaving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the incidents of violence on May 9.

The ex-prime minister’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9 and subsequent violent protests, during which workers and supporters allegedly stormed and torched sensitive state installations across the country, unleashed a mass exodus of leaders from the PTI.

Over 80 lawmakers and leaders of the party have bid farewell to the party after the May 9 riots.

‘Weakening the country’

Berating the former premier who was removed from office via a vote of no-confidence in April last year, Asif accused Khan of shattering the country’s economy, adding that he is now trying to weaken the country.

Referring to the May 9 riots, the defence minister said: “They have attacked the country.” During the violent protests, miscreants attacked the civil and military installations including — Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) in Lahore Cantt and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

‘Black day’ for military

The military called May 9 a “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.

The defence minister predicted that more people would leave the party

Taking a jab at Imran Khan, Asif asked him to give more names of the negotiation team so that if some of them quit the party, then there should be a replacement for the members.

A day earlier, the PTI announced the constitution of a seven-member team for negotiating with the incumbent government on the direction of its chairman.

The negotiation team comprises PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former defence minister Pervez Khattak, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, and former ministers Murad Saeed, Hammad Azhar, and Aun Abbasi.

No talks

Rejecting the negotiation offer made by the PTI, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday said that talks could not be held with those who attacked the state.

The deposed prime minister had said he was ready to speak to “anyone who is in power” after his party’s top leaders began jumping ship following the May 9 riots.

More leaders leave party

Meanwhile, four more leaders of the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) have announced parting ways with Imran Khan’s party over the incidents that took place on May 9.

Former special assistant to prime minister Tariq Mehmood Al Hasan, former member of the provincial assembly (MPA) Malik Khurram Ali Khan and former member of the national assembly (MNA) Jamshed Thomas on Sunday condemned the protests that took place on May 9, Geo News reported.

Nadia Aziz, PTI MPA from Punjab, has also announced parting ways will Imran Khan’s party over the events that took place on May 9, Dawn reported.