A foreign media report has claimed that ‘stark’ pressures are being applied to members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to force them to leave the party in the aftermath of May 9.

The report published on the Guardian’s website quotes unnamed PTI workers to say that physical violence, abductions and threats to family members are being used as a pressure tactic.

One party member, described as a ‘senior leader’, told the Guardian that he had been handed over to an intelligence agency which proceeded to beat him with ‘sticks, punches and kicks’ as he hung upside down.

The leader claimed that threats were issued to his family on phone call and he was also told that ‘they would pick up my children and entire family’. The only way out was to resign, which he did.

The brother of a ‘youth leader’ told the Guardian that he and his entire family had been forced to go into hiding to avoid the crackdown, and he was living away from his wife and newborn child.

He said that he been sent ‘indirect messages’ to leave the party to get out of the situation just because his brother was a prominent member.

However, as the stead resignations of party workers and leaders continues, the report said many people who were key figures in Imran Khan’s party have been disillusioned by his lack of leadership and care for workers.

A ‘former senior leader’ of the party told the Guardian that the PTI chief was a ‘narcissist’ and the fact was known to all around him.

“It is the bitter truth [that] Khan does not care about his workers and close aides and what they go through or face,” he said.