In a major blow to Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s senior leader Shireen Mazari announced on Tuesday that she was retiring from active politics and quitting the PTI immediately.

“I called this press conference to say two things. First, I condemn the violence that took place on May 9 and 10 and submitted an affidavit in court regarding this,” Mazari said on Tuesday at her house, flanked by her daughter, Imaan, and her lawyer.

“Secondly, I have decided to leave active politics,” she said, “I will not be a part of PTI or any other political party.”

She had earlier been whisked away by ‘unknown men’ as she was released for a fifth time after being detained under the Maintainance of Public Order. Her daughter, Imaan, and her lawyer stood beside her as she made the announcement.

“Being arrested for 12 days was a testing time for my health and my daughter,” she said.

She added that things were different now that her husband had died and she was the only parent left for her children. She added that in the current situation, her health, her children and the wellbeing of her mother were her top priorities.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi is also set to address a press conference outside Adiala Jail after signing an affidavit for his release.

Who is Shireen Mazari

Shrieen mazari comes from a landowner family from Rajanpur in southern Punjab. Shireen’s father Sardar Ashiq Mazari owned thousands of acres of land in Tehsil Rojhan, District Rajanpur.

Mazari studied at the London School of Economics and later received her PhD in political science from Columbia University.

A Wikipedia entry on Mazari says she joined Quaid-i-Azam University as an associate professor and went on to head the university’s strategic studies department. In 2002, Mazari became the head of the government-funded Institute of Strategic Studies and remained until she was sacked in 2008.

In 2009, Mazari became the editor of The Nation. She also hosted a weekly television show on the Waqt News — a TV channel that later ceased broadcasting operations.

Mazari joined the PTI in 2008 and was appointed as the information secretary and the spokesperson of the party the next year she.

She was elected to the National Assembly in the 2013 general elections and again in 2018, when PTI came to power. Imran Khan appointed her the human rights minister in his cabinet.

Her husband, Dr Tabish Aitbar Hazir, died five months ago. She has a daughter, Imaan Zainab Mazari Hazir, and a son, Sabeel Hazir.