Asad Umar, the former leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former federal minister, experienced a severe health crisis while attending a session at Lahore’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). He was swiftly transferred to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) hospital after suffering a heart attack in the courtroom.
In a related development, on November 11, 2023, Asad Umar announced his complete withdrawal from both politics and the PTI. He made this announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that after over a decade in public service, he had decided to exit the political arena. He expressed his disagreement with the confrontational stance taken against state institutions, which he believes has resulted in harmful collisions detrimental to the country’s interests.
Umar also mentioned his resignation from his basic membership in the PTI, extending his gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career, especially the NA-54 team and voters who elected him twice. He concluded by wishing blessings upon the Pakistani nation.
Earlier, in May 2023, Umar had announced his resignation from his role as the PTI’s secretary general following a crackdown on the party after violent protests erupted on May 9, triggered by the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan. Despite stepping down from his party position, he had not resigned from the party or politics at that time.
During a press conference on May 25, Umar stated that his decision to leave his party position was not under duress. He described the previous 13 months as the most challenging period for the PTI, citing the arrest of thousands of party workers and his own 15-day detention. He condemned the May 9 riots and called for a transparent investigation into the arrests, asserting that those responsible should be held accountable.
