Sadaqat Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Sadaqat Ali Abbasi also left Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and politics and blamed PTI chairman Imran Khan for hatching a conspiracy against Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir and the Pakistan Army.
Sadaqat Abbasi condemned the May 9 violence while speaking on a current affairs program of a private TV channel. Abbasi reemerged last week after remaining missing for a month. He repeated whatever other PTI leaders stated before quitting the party and politics.
Abbasi revealed, “Within our party, there was a faction led by individuals such as Shireen Mazari, Murad Saeed, and Shahbaz Gill. They tended to express their views in an extreme manner during our meetings with Khan.”
He added, “This behavior raised concerns among all of us. Subsequently, Khan adopted an exceptionally confrontational stance against institutions and the military. It ultimately culminated in the May 9 riots.“
May 9 saw violent protests following Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case at the Islamabad High Court. Although the PTI initially condemned these incidents and called for a judicial inquiry, the government cracked down on the protesters, leading to the arrest of several PTI leaders and members.
Abbasi is the latest in a series of leaders, following Usman Dar, who left the PTI and made allegations against Khan. PTI chairman is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail in the cipher case.
On October 3rd, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted Abbasi bail in the GHQ attack case. Abbasi had been abducted outside Parliament Lodges, and a petition for his recovery was pending before the Islamabad High Court.
In recent weeks, the PPP and JI have called for a level playing field for all political parties.
Abbasi claimed that the PTI had adopted a narrative against the establishment and alleged that a Zoom meeting had been held on May 7th on the advice of Bushra Bibi. He stated that targets for the protest were apparently decided during this meeting.
Abbasi further accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of orchestrating the events on May 9th and providing instructions to party supporters.
When questioned, Abbasi asserted that during the May 7th meeting, it was decided that the party would react to the arrest of Imran Khan. The PTI supporters would take to the streets in large numbers. The aim was to create the impression that the military was under pressure to negotiate with Khan.
Abbasi alleged that he learned from his circle that Bushra Bibi had chaired the meeting. He also suggested that Khan had aimed to prevent Asim Munir from becoming the army chief during the planned long march. Khan believed that this would put significant pressure on the institution, leading to potential negotiations.
Earlier, PTI leader Sadaqat Ali Abbasi returned home a couple of days ago. A video circulating on social media captured the emotional reunion between him and his family members.
Meanwhile, on October 3, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi granted him bail in the GHQ attack case. Abbasi was picked up from outside Parliament Lodges, and a petition seeking his recovery was pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The petition asserted that unknown individuals abducted the PTI leader.
However, Abbasi appeared before the Rawalpindi ATC and requested pre-arrest interim bail. The judge granted him bail against a Rs 50,000 surety bond.
ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif also instructed Mr. Abbasi to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the police as necessary.
The court scheduled the next hearing of his bail petition for October 10.
