Imran Ismail says goodbye to Imran Khan, PTI

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Ismail announced to part ways with Imran Khan-led party following his release from jail on Saturday, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.

Earlier, an anti-terrorist court ordered the release of the former Sindh governor after approving a report by the police declaring him "innocent".

Former Sindh governor Ismail said he is possibly addressing his “last political press conference”.

Following his release, addressing a crowded press conference, Ismail announced his departure from the former ruling party. He said it is my last political press conference. “I am the founder member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and we used to dream to have a developed and prosperous Pakistan,” he said.

He said he enjoyed a good relationship with PTI chairman Imran Khan.

Ismail has said he had a very “deep and amazing” journey with party chairman Imran Khan.

“I was among the four people who laid the foundation of the PTI, among its founding members and then a long struggle was before you … there were many ups and downs in the struggle and we dreamed of a developing and prosperous Pakistan.”

He said that it is yet to be decided who was behind the May 9 attacks.

“Pakistan’s armed forces are our pride and because of them, we sleep peacefully because they protect our borders. I also wanted to become a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in my childhood.

“What happened on May 9 was very wrong and everyone should be held accountable whoever may be involved in it,” he said.

The former Sindh governor said that after a lot of thinking he took the “difficult decision” of leaving Imran Khan.

Imran Ismael further stated that the people behind the May 9 violence should be fixed, adding that the rioters who ransacked military buildings should be dealt with the iron hands.

He said that he decided to leave all slots of the party. He said goodbye both to Imran and PTI as well.

Ismail has said that unlike other party leaders reaffirming their family linkages to the military while announcing their departure from the party, he was not “interlinked” with the army and his family had no soldier.

“But my heart is with Pakistan. How can I say that I have no relation to the army if my family has had no soldier? I have a link and a relation. I wanted to go into the Pakistan Air Force.”

Talking about the PTI’s mass contact movement after its government ouster, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail has said that a “diversion” came at a certain point.

“A diversion or narrative started being built that PTI was up against the army and in this narrative-building, many friends were uncomfortable and advised Imran Khan. […] Someone has to take responsibility and I’m not taking names but those who gave such [inciting] advice to Imran Khan should reflect and we called out with strange names such as ‘Mr X’ and ‘Mr Y’ and ‘Dirty Harry’.

“And then a thought became entrenched in common people’s mind that our confrontation was not with political forces but the establishment.”

 

Ismail was arrested in the case pertaining to vandalism and riots violent protest on Shahrah-e-Faisal Road, which erupted as a result of PTI Chairman Imran Khan's arrest on May 9.

He was arrested by the Tipu Sultan police and later, the PTI leader was shifted to Karachi's Darakhshan Police Station.

The court ordered the PTI leader's release against surety bonds worth Rs50,000 and issued his release orders as well.

The investigation officer, in the report submitted to the ATC, stated that no evidence was found against the former governor in relation to the riots.