ISLAMABAD
\nSix more Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders from Punjab on Saturday parted their ways with the party after condemning the May 9 attacks.
\nLeaders include ex-provincial ministers Hashim Dogar, Rai Taimur Bhatti, Chaudhry Ikhlaq, and Samiullah, ex-TEVTA chairman Mamoon Tarar, and Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar. They announced the move at a press conference.
\nHashim Dogar said May 9 could not be forgotten for life, adding that they condemned the attacks. \u201cIt was better if Mr Khan would have been taken a dig at his political opponents,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cPakistan army is our red line,\u201d he said.
\nHe went on to say that they would formulate future strategy soon, adding that some other party members were also in contact with them. \u201cWhoever was involved in May 9 attacks should be give an exemplary punishment,\u201d he added.
\nHe continued by saying that politicians should keep their politics to themselves, adding that they should remember sacrifices rendered by soldiers. \u201cWe should stay away from violence,\u201d he added.
\nMr Dogar appealed the law-enforcement authorities to release innocent captives.
\nRai Taimur Bhatti said times came in politics that one had to choose politics and state, adding that they existed if the state existed. \u201cIf attacks like May 9 are not condemned, it will become a trend,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cWe have chosen state over politics,\u201d he said.
\nCh Ikhlaq a time had come when the nation had to choose between vested interests and the country, adding that May 9 attacks had been condemned. \u201cMay 9 attack is akin to Bangladesh tragedy for me,\u201d he added.
\nHe went on to say that he would like to pay tribute to the army, adding that they would devise a strategy for future soon.
\nMamoon Tarar
\nHe started off by saying that he was not crying to leave the PTI, adding that May 9 attacks were actually worth crying. \u201cA drop of soldier\u2019s blood is more sacred than all politicians,\u201d he added.
\nHe said it was a matter of concern for all of them, adding that they had not yet joined any other party. \u201cWe are just quitting the PTI,\u201d he added.
\nMr Mansab said he had joined the PTI two months ago, adding that it was not incumbent upon everyone what happened on May 9. \u201cMay 9 attacks jolted us,\u201d he added.
\nHe went on to say that the army had protected the country since it came into being in 1948, adding that he could not understand the clash between politicians and the army. \u201cPeople suffer in this fight and no one else,\u201d he added.
\nEarlier, in a significant development, Jahangir Tareen, a disgruntled PTI leader. hinted at establishing a new political party.
\nSources familiar with the matter disclosed that Mr Tareen would assume the role of the party\u2019s patron-in-chief, with several prominent dissident leaders of PTI, including Aleem Khan, joining his ranks.
\nReports suggest that Mr Tareen and his like-minded associates undertook initial preparations, while a party secretariat was established in Lahore.
\nPTI leader Murad Raas on Friday announced quitting the party as well as forming a group of like-minded people.
\nAddressing a presser with Pir Ahmad Khagga, Raja Yawar Kamal and Chaudhry Adnan, he said May 9 attacks were highly condemnable, adding that it was never in plans. \u201cI don\u2019t know how things reached this point,\u201d he added.
\nHe went on to say that more PTI leaders would follow suit in the coming days, adding that sometimes one had to take two steps back to move forward. \u201cWe joined the party to improve the situation of the country,\u201dhe added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Six more Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders from Punjab on Saturday parted their ways with the party after condemning the May 9 attacks. Leaders include ex-provincial ministers Hashim Dogar, Rai Taimur Bhatti, Chaudhry Ikhlaq, and Samiullah, ex-TEVTA chairman Mamoon Tarar, and Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar. They announced the move at a press conference. Hashim Dogar […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":333837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-333818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n