PTI leader Ali Zaidi has announced his decision to quit politics, Aaj News reported. The leader, who hails from Karachi, announced the decision in a video message.

“I have always served Pakistan and I joined politics for Pakistan. I have already condemned the events of May 9 and again condemn that,” he said. “The Armed Forces of Pakistan are our pride and because of them we safely sleep. They defend our borders. Whatever happened was very wrong and it is important to bring everyone, whoever was involved in it, to book.”

“After much thought, I have decided that it was a difficult decision, not an easy one, I have decided that I will quit politics. When I will leave politics, my position at PTI as the president of Sindh’s chapter and core committee member or MNA, I resign from all the positions. I will try to serve Pakistan and work for Pakistan. I will bring foreign investments. I have been doing this, bringing foreign exchange and exports to the country, in the past before joining politics. I want to again do this. I bid farewell to politics. Pakistan Armed Forces Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad.”

On Friday, Zaidi’s children spoke about their ordeal in a tweet.

“We miss our father being at home. He guides us through our tough times and we are unable to help him through his. He has done nothing but serve Pakistan with honesty. Bring our father back home safely. We love you baba hope you come back home soon,” Sacha Ali Zaidi wrote.

In reaction to her tweet, former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Zaidi would soon be freed.

Most of PTI chief Imran Khan’s top aides were arrested shortly after protesters stormed and set ablaze a number of military installations across the country. Many have been released and shortly after announced their resignations from Khan’s party. Dozens of other mid-tier leaders have also left.

Khan claimed that they were being made to resign under duress in a bid to weaken him and dismantle his party. He distanced his party from the attacks on military installations during the unrest that followed his arrest and reiterated a call for an investigation to determine who was involved.

PTI members have said they were leaving of their own free will. Many of them cited concerns for their family and health.