Pakistan

Firdous Ashiq Awan, Murad Raas bid farewell to PTI

  • Says Imran Khan and a progressive Pakistan are not compatible with each other
Published May 26, 2023

Former Special Assistant to CM Punjab Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday left Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) primarily due to May 9 violence and attack on state institutions by party supporters.

In a press conference, she stated that she had joined the party with a vision to aid Pakistan’s prosperity but the objectives of party had changed now.

“Pakistan’s progress and Imran Khan are not compatible with each other,” she said.

She highlighted that the party’s “violent and terrorist activities” forced her to quit it.

She hailed the martyrs of Pakistan and added that they deserved respect.

“Those who disrespected martyrs attacked Pakistan’s foundation and ideology.”

Awan claimed that she was on self-exile from the PTI over the last year due to differences between her and Imran’s narratives.

“Imran’s agenda is like poison for Pakistan and I am a victim of this agenda as well. He becomes an enemy to his friends first.”

Awan alleged that the PTI chief used people like “tissue papers” and then discarded them when “his work is done”.

“This is the reason why PTI has reached a dead end today.”

The development comes following Imran’s arrest on May 9 in a case pertaining to the Al-Qadir Trust University.

Since Imran’s arrest, and subsequent bail, several PTI leaders and supporters have been detained and later released.

Moreover, dozens of lawmakers and senior politicians have left the party. The resignations include founding members, core committee leads, media strategists, and members of the social media teams, all of whom have been seen as crucial to the party.

These include Fawad Chaudhry, Dr Shireen Mazari, Fayyaz Chohan and others.

Murad Raas jumps ship

Former Punjab education minister Murad Raas also quit the party.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, Raas said no amount of condemnation was enough for what happened on May 9.

“I never thought I would part ways with the party,” he said.

He laid the blame for the party’s current predicament — facing intense criticism with scores of leaders and thousands of workers arrested across the country following the riots — on Khan’s advisers in Lahore.

“We do not believe in the PTI’s politics of violence,” the former provincial minister said.

Comments

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Parvez May 26, 2023 03:48pm
Has Asad Umer left the party ?
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BK May 26, 2023 04:11pm
Lady what is your definition of progressive Pakistan? Seems like you are stuck with the definition we have been following for last 75 years (if military direct or indirect rule) and look where it got us. People show their true colors during difficult times, you just showed yours. Go, lick the boots of army generals now!
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AI May 26, 2023 05:28pm
Pakistan’s bad luck is to have politicians likes of Ms. Firdous and many others. Good riddance if she choses to totally retire, which I doubt will be the case. So au revoir until her next assignment is handed to her by establishment.
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HashBrown® May 26, 2023 08:10pm
@Parvez, I believe he still has party membership but has resigned his role in the party (this may all change before this comment is published though).
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TimeToMovveOn May 26, 2023 08:14pm
This is democracy by coercion. Right now, hands down the PTI IK will win. Although he is no good for the economy or foreign policy, it will at least show that Pakitan has some parts of democracy left intact. IF IK and PTI and banned, then the Pakistan democracy project is all but dead. I am no fan of IK, but banning PTI and IK will cause a fracture in the Pakistan society, which Pakistan does not need now. Most US overseas Pakistanis are already giving up hope, and in fact asking the US to intervene. This is not good for the unity of the country. For the sake of Pakistans future, the incompetent IK must be allowed to compete fair and square--even if he is not going to be good for Pakistan.
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TimeToMoVVeOn May 26, 2023 08:22pm
@kashif , Sadly yes. This is going to create a social split within Pakistan from which it will never recover. It is a repeat of 1971 all over again with a different theme. While some like hashBrown irrationally think that this is process through which you will emerge, I am glad that there are saner voices. This is ab
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Shahid Khan May 27, 2023 12:58am
We are no fan of IK but this is a win of his stance
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Love Your Country May 27, 2023 02:06am
FAA has jumped the ship at least twice before - a real democrat (opportunist democrat that is).
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HashBrown® May 27, 2023 02:57am
@TimeToMovveOn, "Most US overseas Pakistanis are already giving up hope, and in fact asking the US to intervene." This is the latest news, brought to you from that super reliable BJP fanboy on a US green card... Seriously, what in the world would you know about the Pakistani community in the US? Or anywhere else for that matter?
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HashBrown® May 27, 2023 03:06am
@TimeToMoVVeOn, "While some like hashBrown irrationally think that this is process through which you will emerge, I am glad that there are saner voices. This is ab" I remember the early days of the internet, back when Hindutva fanatics were pioneering online hate speech long before the rest of the world caught up - that was about 25 years ago, and even back then you guys were wetting yourselves in excitement because you thought Pakistan was doomed. Fast forward about 20 years, and that same "doomed" country humiliated you in front of the entire world when you tried a cross border attack. But hey, if you think you're part of the "saner voices" because you're still clinging to that same fantasy, you go right ahead - it's what makes you such easy targets whenever you bring your nonsense to sites like this!
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Riaz May 27, 2023 05:16am
Good riddance. Those who left PTI were opportunist in the first place as they moved from one party to another, or of low moral fibre. It is in difficult time that one's courage is tested. PTI will emerge stronger after getting rid of the turncoats
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