ISLAMABAD: Asad Umar, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has expressed confidence that the party’s vote bank will not be affected by the recent exodus of party leaders following the May 9 vandalism incident.
Umar, who recently resigned from all party positions, including secretary general, made these remarks while addressing reporters outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday.
According to Umar, the PTI’s vote bank is solely due to Imran Khan, and it remains unaffected by the departure of party leaders. He emphasized that his own resignation was different from that of his colleagues who completely parted ways with Khan. He clarified that he remains committed to the party, dismissing any rumors suggesting otherwise.
The arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan on May 9 sparked violent protests across the country, during which military and public installations were attacked. In response, both civil and military leadership took strict action against the rioters, including initiating trials under the Army Act. This wave of unrest led to the departure of several party leaders, including Shireen Mazari, Ali Zaidi, and Fawad Chaudhry, who cited the attacks on military installations as their reason for leaving.
IHC Approves Asad Umar’s Protective Bail
In another development, the IHC granted Umar’s protective bail in a terrorism case related to his alleged involvement in the May 9 vandalism. The court ordered him to submit a surety bond of Rs25,000 and instructed him to approach the relevant court by June 1 regarding the case lodged against him at the Gulberg police station in Lahore.
Umar was released from Adiala Jail on May 24 following an IHC order that declared his arrest under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) null and void. He had been taken into custody from the IHC premises on May 10, a day after violent protests erupted nationwide against Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
