LAHORE — PTI leader Murad Raas announced his resignation from the party on Friday, as well as the formation of a group of like-minded individuals.
Speaking at a news conference with Pir Ahmad Khagga, Raja Yawar Kamal, and Chaudhry Adnan, he condemned the May 9 assaults and said that they were never planned. “I’m not sure how things got to this point,” he continued.
He went on to warn that more PTI officials will follow suit in the following days, and that sometimes taking two steps back was necessary to progress ahead. “We joined the party to improve the country’s situation,” he continued.
We never imagined we’d be doing this, he added, adding that he joined the PTI 15 years ago when no one knew anything about it after giving up his American passport. “We did everything we could,” he stated.
He said that they believed in democracy and voting, but that they did not favour excessive agitation. “No one wants to get into a fight with the institutions,” he remarked. He claimed that disagreements with others might be settled by negotiation.
He went on to claim that fighting would not enhance people’s livelihoods, and that advisers to PTI head Imran Khan got events to this stage when he relocated to Lahore. “Before acting on advice, every advisor’s value must be assessed,” he continued.
He went on to explain that he was grateful to his supporters and votes, and that it had been a tough period for him. “My ministry is the second largest portfolio after the army,” he said.
On May 25, he said on Twitter that police had returned to his house to interview his “80-year-old father” about him.