Pervez Khattak Resigns as PTI KP President Amid Political Crisis

In a significant development within the political landscape of Pakistan, Pervez Khattak, a senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, declared his decision to step down as the party's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter president. Khattak made the announcement during a press conference held in Islamabad, citing the prevailing political crisis as the primary reason for his resignation.

Addressing the media, the stalwart of PTI expressed the difficulties he faced in continuing his role as the KP chapter president given the ongoing turmoil in the political arena. Khattak emphasized the importance of careful consideration before arriving at this decision and stated that he intends to consult with his friends and party colleagues to determine the future course of action.

Unexplained Absence of PTI Leaders Asad Qaiser and Pervez Khattak

In a separate and rather mysterious turn of events, two prominent PTI leaders, Asad Qaiser and Pervez Khattak, were reported missing on Thursday. The spokesperson for the leaders mentioned that attempts to reach out to them since morning had been unsuccessful, raising concerns among their supporters and the general public.

According to the spokesperson, Qaiser, a former National Assembly speaker, and Khattak, the former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, left their respective locations early in the morning to meet someone at an undisclosed destination. However, the KP police denied any involvement in their disappearance, leading to further confusion surrounding the circumstances.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) also became involved in the matter when Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir scheduled a hearing for Qaiser's petition seeking protection from arrest under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Ordinance (MPO). The hearing is set to take place on Friday, shedding light on the escalating legal dimension of the situation.

Political Negotiations and Arrests within PTI Ranks

As the political deadlock persists, the chairman of PTI, Imran Khan, has assembled a negotiating committee consisting of close aides to engage in talks with the current government. The objective is to break the impasse and find a resolution to the ongoing crisis. The inclusion of these key figures signifies the party's commitment to pursuing a peaceful and diplomatic solution.

Amidst these developments, hundreds of PTI workers and leaders have faced arrests in connection with the riots that occurred on May 9. Notably, influential party members, including Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, and Aamir Mehmood Kiani, have distanced themselves from the party chief, further exacerbating the challenges faced by PTI.

Furthermore, PTI President Parvez Elahi was apprehended by anti-corruption officials outside his residence in Lahore earlier today. The arrest came in relation to a corruption case involving the misappropriation of development funds allocated for the Gujrat district, amounting to Rs70 million. The decision to deny Elahi's bail followed the court's rejection of a medical certificate that claimed he was experiencing chest pain, ultimately deeming it counterfeit.

The spokesperson for the anti-corruption department revealed that Elahi was apprehended while attempting to flee and highlighted his involvement in multiple corruption cases. These events have added another layer of complexity to PTI's challenges and raised concerns about the party's internal affairs.