Pervez Khan Khattak officially launches new political party calls Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarian

PESHAWAR, July 17 (SABAH): Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, former defense minister and ex-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Pervez Khan Khattak officially announced the launch of a new political party on Monday called the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarian (PTI-P).

The move serves as a heavy blow to the PTI as at least 57 provincial and national assembly members including former governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan have joined the new party.

Notably, this includes the likes of Ishtiaq Ahmed Armar, Ziaullah Khan Bangash, Ghazi Ghazan Jamal, Aghaz Gandapur, Ahtesham Javed, Ahmed Hussain Shah, Falak Naz, Ibrahim Khattak, Malik Javed, Pir Fida, Wilsan Wazir, Malik Wajid, Arbab Waseem, Haji Shaukat Ali, Iqbal Wazir, Anwar Zeb, Zahoor Shakir, Imran Khattak, Musawwar Khan, Sher Akbar, Saleh Muhammad, Nadeem Khayal, Yaqoob Sheikh, Wazir Zada, Fazal Maula among others.
The development comes as the Imran Khan-led 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 wreaked havoc on the country and attacked army installations.

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

Pervez Khattak said he condemned the May 9 incidents — for which several suspects are set to face stern punishments as the government and army remain determined to try them in military courts.

“Our existence is directly linked to that of Pakistan. PTI is now completely finished in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the former provincial chief minister, who holds an important position in the province’s politics, said.

Khattak, who served as the PTI’s secretary general and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the PTI government, quit the post of PTI KP president soon after the May 9 mayhem.

According to a handout issued by the party, Khattak is the new party’s chief while “more than 57” ex-PTI MPAs also joined the party with more inductions under way.

“Formation of new party came due to differences and conflict within the PTI on May 9 tragedy,” the handout reads, adding that all political leaders joining the PTI-P held PTI Chairman Imran Khan responsible for the May 9 riots.

“Imran Khan’s anti-national agenda was not only rejected by the public but the party’s own leadership. These patriotic politicians parted ways with the PTI over May 9’s events,” it further said.