Usman Dar quits PTI and politics, squarely blames party chief for the May 9 events

In a major blow to ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, his close aide and former SAPM Usman Dar on Wednesday announced to quit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and politics.

The now-former PTI leader squarely blamed the party chief for the May 9 events as he made startling revelations during an exclusive episode of “On The Front” on Dunya TV.

Interstingly, PTI leader Usman Dar, who had allegedly gone missing according to his party has made a startling entry.

Usman Dar alleged that the former prime minister used the human shield to avoid his arrest and issued instructions for attacking the sensitive installations.

Dar said that there were clear instructions relayed that in the event of the PTI chief’s arrest, sensitive installations should be attacked to pressure the military.

“These directions had come directly from the PTI chief,” he added.

Dar alleged that charged the PTI chief with masterminding the May 9 events, saying “These were planned at Zaman Park”.

He went on to add that the goal behind these attacks was to pressure the military and extract the resignation from Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

“Whatever happened at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad and Zaman Park in Lahore was the result of this brainwashing,” alleged Dar.

He further added that the PTI chief brainwashed his own party workers in order to avoid his arrest.

PTI’s long march in October last year was meant to stop the posting of Asim Munir as the chief of army staff.

Dar blamed the PTI chairman for the current condition of the party which, according to him, was in tatters after seeing scores of party stalwarts and loyalists leave for its anti-Pakistan narrative.

Dar also mentioned the mass resignations following the violent attacks on sensitive installations.

According to Usman Dar, he did not put a burden of even a rupee on the state exchequer, saying he even paid out of pocket for his official foreign visits.

Dar, who served as special adviser to the former prime minister on youth affairs, also claimed that he did not misuse the taxpayers’ money.

The PTI leader strongly condemned the May 9 violence, stating that “The slur left by the May 9 incident [on the PTI] will take time to come out.”