PTI's Aamer Kiani jumps ship as noose tightens around party

In a major blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), former federal minister and close aid of party chairman Imran Khan, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, on Wednesday announced that he would be quitting politics after reports emerged that the party was involved in May 09 vandalism during which military installations were also attacked.

Kiani, who is currently PTI's additional secretary, may also address a press conference later today where he may announce his decision, sources told Geo News.

"I am not only leaving PTI but also quitting politics," Kiani was quoted as saying by the TV channel.

The former health minister is the second PTI leader to jump ship after Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Mahmood Baqi Maulvi.

Kiani was elected from the NA-16 constituency on a PTI ticket in 2018 and was considered a close aide of the PTI chief. He was also the former president of PTI’s North Punjab chapter.

A day earlier, MNA Maulvi, who was elected on a PTI ticket from Karachi, announced that he was leaving the party following countrywide riots after party chairman Imran Khan's arrest.

Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9 by the rangers on the warrants of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Following his arrest, the party's supporters wreaked havoc across the country and attacked military installations.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Maulvi announced to quit PTI. "We can change political parties but we cannot change our army. I have never gone against the army nor will I do it in the future," he stressed.

He also shared that party workers had been discussing before May 9 that they would go to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi in case Khan was arrested.

"I told them we should not fight against the army because there is no reason for it."

Maulvi had said neither did he know the people who participated in the violent protests, nor was he a part of them, adding that the actions of those involved in the riots were "indefensible".

"It is not permissible to fight against the army anywhere," he added.

The government has decided to not spare anyone involved in vandalism and vowed to bring all those responsible to justice.

On Monday, the military's top brass vowed to try protesters and their abettors under relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act, following the attacks on military installations on May 9, which the army dubbed as "Black Day".