Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Maleeka Bokhari announced her resignation and complete ‘disassociation’ from the party on Thursday.
“As the neice of a shaheed I condemn the events of May 9,” she said in a press conference in Islamabad before announcing her resignation. She added that every Pakistani citizen held the martyrs of the army in high regard.
However, she said that the decision was not made under pressure. She added that she wanted to give time to her children and her mother, who is a cancer survivor.
“I surrendered my British citizenship in 2018 and came back to serve the country,” she said.
Bokhari had been released from the Adiala Jail earlier on Thursday.
She was arrested from Gilgit Baltistan House in Islamabad on May 12. She was released and immediately re-arrested from Adiala Jail on May 17.
Bokhari, a barrister, was elected to the National Assembly on a reserved seat in 2018. She served as the parliamentary secretary for law and justice.
** Jamshed and Mussarrat Cheema announce resignation
Jamshed Cheema and his wife, Mussarat, also announced that they would end their political journey after the events of May9.
“No attacks were planned after Imran Khan’s arrest,” Jamshed Cheema said, “But we failed to control the protest.”
“In politics you serve the nation, but not at the cost of armed forces,” he said. He added that there was no pressure on them to make the decision.
Mussarrat Cheema added that this was the longest she had stayed away from her 11-year-old son who is a cancer survivor.
She added that May 9 had been the most unfortunate day of her political career.