Ex-MNA from K-P, Usman Tarakai, and PTI Karachi president Aftab Hussain Siddiqui announce resignations
\n Islamabad
\nIn a major blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday, two more leaders of the former ruling party \u2014 Usman Tarakai from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Aftab Hussain Siddiqui, the party\u2019s president for Karachi \u2014 announced that they are parting ways with the party in protest of the vandalism across the country following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan on May 9.
\nThe resignations follow announcements from several leaders of quitting the opposition party, citing their differences with the PTI\u2019s stance against the country\u2019s military.
\nSiddiqui announced his decision in a video message, stating that he has also distanced himself from politics.
\n\u201cI have quit politics and resigned from all positions, including the post of President PTI Karachi and the National Assembly seat,\u201d the former PTI Karachi president said in the video message.
\nThe former PTI leader said that he wants to serve the country in a different capacity now as a businessman. He said that he has parted ways with PTI chief Imran Khan by saying \u201cPakistan Zindabad\u201d and declared that he no longer has any affiliation with politics.
\nMeanwhile, Usman Tarakai, who was elected as a member of the National Assembly from Swabi, also announced his departure from the PTI, stating that he cannot continue with the party after the events of May 9.
\nTarakai announced that he is resigning from the party\u2019s basic membership.
\n\u201cWhat happened on May 9 was a disrespect to the martyrs\u2019 memorial. I belong to the same village from where Captain Colonel Sher Khan hailed, and we even held a rally in his honour,\u201d Usman stated.
\nThe leader said that he joined PTI in 2015 when Imran Khan used to talk about justice.
\n\u201cI stood with Imran Khan till the end. Although I had the option to contest independently without PTI\u2019s ticket, my path was obstructed. The influence of Pervez Khattak and Asad Qaiser grew in the party. When we raised our voices, I was given a show cause notice and removed from my party position,\u201d he said.
\nUsman said that he will make a decision on whether he would join another party or not after consulting with the people of his constituency.
\nOn this occasion, former PTI leader Buland Khan Tarakai said, \u201cWe have no affiliation with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf anymore. Imran Khan only speaks for himself. During the PTI era, my house was attacked. I fought for justice during the PTI tenure\u201d.<\/p>\n
He further said that Colonel Sher Khan, the martyr, was the pride of the nation, condemning the damage done to his statue.<\/p>\n
Usman Tarakai becomes the latest PTI leader to quit the party. Earlier, Mahmood Moulvi, Aamir Kiyani, Karim Bux Gabol, Sanjay Gangwani and Malik Amin Aslam had announced leaving PTI.<\/p>\n
In his reaction to the reports of leaders leaving PTI, Imran Khan responded on Twitter: \u201cMy sympathies go to all those who under pressure have been made to leave the party. And I commend and salute all the senior members who are resisting the extreme pressure to quit the party.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ex-MNA from K-P, Usman Tarakai, and PTI Karachi president Aftab Hussain Siddiqui announce resignations Islamabad In a major blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday, two more leaders of the former ruling party \u2014 Usman Tarakai from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Aftab Hussain Siddiqui, the party\u2019s president for Karachi \u2014 announced that they are parting ways […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":332649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-332623","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n