Imran Khan's close aide Pervez Khattak forms new political party

Pakistan's former defence minister Pervez Khattak, a close aide of ousted prime minister Imran Khan, on Monday said he has formed a new party - 'Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentarians'.

. Khattak, who served as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's secretary general and chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the PTI government, quit the post of the party's provincial president soon after the May 9 mayhem. However, the party last week terminated his membership over his failure to respond to a "show cause notice".

. The 73-year-old leader announced the formation of the new party in Peshawar at an event attended by scores of ex parliamentarians of the PTI.

. He claimed support of over 57 former parliamentarians including ex-chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mehmud Khan (2018-2022). Several former provincial ministers including Mehmud Khan and Shaukat Ali Yusafzai are also among those joining the Khattak camp.

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. Khattak said that the majority of the former lawmakers of PTI have quit the party due to May 9 tragic episodes in the country.

. "We strongly condemn the May 9 incidents in which military installations were attacked and ransacked by the PTI workers across the country," Khattak said.

. The anti-state narrative by the PTI supremo damaged the party in its stronghold Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which it ruled for around 10 years (2013-2022).

. Political pundits believe that the formation of the 'PTI Parliamentarians' in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by Khattak will marginalise Khan's party in the province.

. He was not on good terms with Khan since May 9 incidents and constantly targeted party leadership for not condemning the May 9 violence.

. Khattak remained the chief minister of KPK from 2013-2018 as PTI had won the state elections with majority in 2013 general elections.

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. In 2013, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the only province in the country which voted PTI to power. In the 2013 elections, PML-N formed a government in the centre, PPP in Sindh and JUIF coalition in Balochistan.

. Khattak is a senior politician of the KPK who also served in PPP and remained provincial minister during previous governments.

. Formation of PTI Parliamentarians at this time when the country is heading towards general elections likely in October/November will certainly give a big blow to PTI's popularity in the province.

. PTI had made a remarkable score in the 2018 general elections as it secured over 100 seats in a house of 145.

. The development comes as the PTI remains embattled, with its chairman facing several cases and a threat of disqualification, while several party leaders leaving him following May 9 - the day PTI workers attacked army installations.

. Khan's former aides have also dented his party in Punjab as Jahangir Tareen, Aleem Khan, and other people considered close to the PTI chief had formed the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party in June.

. The launch of 'PTI Parliamentarians' was marred by the detention of two reporters who were taken into custody for violating a ban on the media coverage of the event.

Imran Khan's close aide Pervez Khattak forms new political party

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