Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, who returned home last week after remaining, missing for a month, has parted ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and politics in the wake of the May 9 events.

“There was a group in our party comprising Shireen Mazari, Murad Saeed, and Shahbaz Gill that used to tell things to Kaan Sb in a very extreme manner whenever we had a meeting,” he said in an interview with Dawn News that was aired on October 9.

“What seemed a little strange to all of us. After that, the one-year narrative of Khan Sb was very extreme against the institutions and against the army and an impact of this obviously came in place on May 9. It was because of that narrative.”

Violent protests had erupted after Khan was first arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in a graft case. The PTI had condemned the incidents and called for a judicial inquiry into the events. But the government launched a crackdown on the protesters and several PTI leaders and workers were arrested.

Abbasi is the latest leader after Usman Dar who has left the party and made allegations against Khan, who is incarcerated in Adiala Jail in a cipher case.

On Oct 3, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted him bail in the GHQ attack case. Abbasi was picked up from outside Parliament Lodges and a petition seeking his recovery was pending before the Islamabad High Court.

In recent weeks, the PPP and JI have called for a “level-playing field” for all political parties.

He claimed that the PTI had a narrative that it was against the establishment. Abbasi alleged that a Zoom meeting was held on May 7 on the advice of former first lady Bushra Bibi. He claimed that targets were decided in the meeting apparently for the protest.

Abbasi accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of planning May 9 events and giving directions to the supporters of the party.

When asked, Abbasi replied that in the May 7 meeting, it was decided that the party had to react if Khan was arrested and supporters would take to the streets in large numbers. The purpose of such an approach was to create an impression that the institution would be under pressure to have a deal with Khan, he claimed.

He alleged that from his circle he came to know that Bushra Bibi had presided over the meeting.

“When the long march was going to be held, he [Imran Khan] wanted him [Asim Munir] not to become the army chief. I think that Imran Khan wanted a big reaction that the institution, especially the army institution, came under pressure. Then there will be some deal after coming under pressure.

Then there was a discussion, like Maryam had said first there will be resistance and then there will be reconciliation. There was no resistance but the image of the institutions of our country was damaged in this resistance.“