ISLAMABAD: Prominent lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Babar Awan, has left for the United Kingdom (UK) as part of the ongoing exodus of party leaders following a countrywide crackdown in the aftermath of the May 9 mayhem and attack on civil and military installations.
Awan, who serves as the counsel for PTI Chairman Imran Khan, departed from Islamabad International Airport via a foreign airline at 1 pm today.
While his family sources mentioned that Awan’s trip to London was pre-scheduled and that he would return soon, his departure comes amidst a wave of PTI members leaving the party.
Babar Awan Expresses Loyalty to Imran Khan
In a tweet, Awan confirmed his travel and cited personal engagements as the reason for his presence abroad. He expressed his loyalty to Imran Khan, stating, “Earlier, Imran was a friend, now he is my leader; PTI is my extended family, and Pakistan is my destination.”
پہلے سے طے شدہ نجی مصروفیات کے لئے ملک سے باہر آیا ہوں۔ میری ساری دوائیاں پاکستانی اور علاج قابلِ فخر پاکستانی ڈاکٹر کرتے ہیں۔ عمران پہلے دوست تھے، اب میرا لیڈر ہے، تحریکِ انصاف میری لارجر فیملی ہے اور پاکستان میری منزلِ مراد۔ 🇵🇰
— Babar Awan (@BabarAwanPK) May 26, 2023
Awan also assured that he receives medical treatment from Pakistani doctors using Pakistani medications.
The protests triggered by Imran Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case resulted in multiple casualties and injuries, leading the government to suspend internet services to maintain law and order.
During the protests, PTI workers burned and damaged military installations, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, prompting the army to designate May 9 as a “Black Day.” The military has insisted on trying those involved in the attacks on military installations under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
As a consequence of the ongoing situation, close aide of Imran Khan, Asad Umar, has stepped down from his positions as secretary general and core committee member. Many other PTI leaders and lawmakers, including Shireen Mazari, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, have publicly condemned the attacks on state installations and announced their departure from the party since the May 9 vandalism.
In response to the violent protests and attacks, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that the federal government is considering imposing a permanent ban on the PTI. The government has reportedly received evidence indicating that the party’s supporters carried out pre-planned and coordinated attacks on public properties and military installations.
