Over 70 lawyers and leaders have left Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party due to the mayhem that occurred on May 9. Imran Ismail, a former governor, and close aide of Khan left the party on Saturday, hours after an anti-terrorism court ordered his release from prison. Ismail knew Khan since his days as a cricketer and was always at the forefront in defending him on television shows. He denied being a part of the May 9 mayhem.
The violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises. In response to Khan’s arrest, party workers vandalized a dozen military installations. The mob also stormed the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khan’s party claims 40 of its workers lost their lives in the firing by security personnel.
Ismail decided to part ways after he was set free from prison. He said, “Whoever did the attack, we as a nation are united with one voice that there is an inquiry and they meted out exemplary punishment whether they’re from the PTI or not.” Maryam Nawaz, Senior Vice President of PML-N party, told Khan that the “game is over” following an exodus of his party’s senior members.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that those involved in attacks on military installations would be tried in military courts while those charged with attacks on civilian targets would be prosecuted under civilian laws. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said that the government was considering a possible ban on Khan’s PTI party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister’s arrest.
