A Khan nominee to the presidency, the former general secretary of PTI is also said to be preparing to desert the party and its chairman in the wake of May 9 mayhem.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: A run on former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) peaked Wednesday with reports swirling around the federal capital that President Arif Alvi is preparing to step down.
Nominated to the office of head of state by Khan, Alvi will simultaneously part ways with his party, well-placed sources told Independent Pakistan.
The reports come amid a flurry of PTI leaders ditching Khan and party in the aftermath of the May 9 mayhem, which the deserters now claim was orchestrated by Khan, a populist demagogue who towered over the party in and out of power.
The sources said Alvi has started consultations with his political colleagues about his resignation. “The President will make a final decision about the matter very soon”, one person privy to the development said.
President of his own PTI, Khan has been on a warpath with all state institutions since his ouster from power through a constitutionally sacrosanct vote of no confidence last April.
In the intervening period, he has mounted one hard-hitting campaign after the other, by turns blaming a foreign-backed conspiracy, the military, and the politicians for his unceremonious departure form the Prime Minster’s House.
Riots broke out at multiple locations across the nation on May 9 after the former cricket star – facing multiple cases of corruption, abuse of power, and moral turpitude – was arrested in connection with a corruption case initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Rioters vandalised and lit on fire multiple military installations and monuments, including the Corps Commander’s House at Lahore.
The authorities have since alleged that the response – since declared Black Day both the civilian leadership and military command – was organised rather than spontaneous, and Khan himself had organised it beforehand.
Several leaders of Khan’s party were caught on mobile and security cameras egging on the violent mobs. However, most of them now hang the blame for the destruction at Khan’s door, professing their innocence and quitting Khan’s party.
Khan on his part says the desertions have been promoted by coercion. He has also insisted his workers were not involved in the violence, but also for a time threatened similar response again if he is arrested.
If Alvi does indeed part ways with Khan, the move will be fit the general pattern of desertions in evidence for over a week now.
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