May 9 Violence Triggers Firdous Awan’s Exit from Imran Khan’s Party

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has faced a significant blow as Firdous Ashiq Awan, who previously held the position of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting from 2019 to 2020, has decided to resign from the party in light of the May 9 violence.

Her exit from the party is likely to have an impact on the party's dynamics. The 53-year-old Pakistani politician announced her exit stating the recent violence and the party's involvement in "violent and terrorist activities" as the reason for her departure. She was also quoted as saying, "Imran Khan and Pakistan can't go together."

The former Federal Minister for Population Welfare expressed, “I believe that the martyrs … their love and the country’s respect are a part of our faith. Those who disrespected martyrs attacked Pakistan’s foundation and ideology."

Awan is the latest to join the list of senior leaders to quit Imran Khan's party, such as former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, former Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari as well as Secretary General Asad Umar. All of the leaders who resigned held similar views to that of Aman and strongly criticized the actions of Imran Khan's supporters who attacked and set fire to sensitive defence installations across Pakistan on May 9.

The violent protests on May 9 that rocked the nation erupted following the arrest of

Imran Khan by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court.

The former PM's supporters vandalized several military installations such as the ISI building in Faisalabad, Lahore Corps Commander's House, the Mianwali airbase, and the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

According to the police, the death toll in the violent clashes has been reported as 10. However, Imran Khan's party claimed that 40 of its workers lost their lives due to gunfire from security personnel. The Army, which has always remained the de facto ruler in Pakistan, condemned the violence by describing the events as a "dark day" in the nation's history.

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