May 9 Events
Usman Dar, a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, announced his departure from the party. He cited the events of May 9, when PTI workers vandalized state installations following the arrest of the former prime minister, as the primary reason for his decision.
In an interview, Dar alleged that the motive behind the May 9 events was to overthrow the army chief, General Asim Munir. He also blamed the PTI leadership for orchestrating these events and claimed that Imran Khan himself chaired the meeting that planned the “plan of action” in case of his arrest.
Following the events, a crackdown results in the arrest of numerous party workers and leaders, including Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Dar’s disappearance and reappearance had also sparked legal proceedings, with his brother-in-law filing a petition in the Sindh High Court, which subsequently directed police to register a case regarding his disappearance.
Dar Quits PTI, Alleges Confrontation
According to Dar, the May 9 incident didn’t happen overnight. He claimed that after PTI was ousted from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, the party split into two factions.
One group, which included Azam Swati, Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, and Farrukh Habib, favored confrontational politics. The other faction, comprising PTI leaders like Asad Umar, Omar Ayub, Ali Muhammad Khan, Shafqat Mehmood, and himself, believed in reconciliation with the military.
Dar asserted that PTI’s core suffered significant damage after May 9, blaming the PTI chairman for endorsing an anti-state narrative. He placed responsibility on the PTI chief for the present state of affairs, stating that May 9 could never receive sufficient condemnation.
Why Dar Stayed Silent Until Now?
PTI spokesperson Shoaib Shaheen questioned why Usman Dar remained silent about the May 9 incidents until now.
He mentioned that Sindh’s interim home minister had already confirmed Dar’s arrest, suggesting that Dar’s statement might not be voluntary.
Shaheen also pointed out that the PTI condemned the violence on May 9.
