QUETTA: A PTI lawmaker from Balochistan, Mobeen Khilji, has resigned from the party over violent protests erupted after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan last week.

Mr Khilji, the provincial minister for the mines and mineral development in the Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo-led coalition government, announced his decision to leave the party at a press conference in Quetta on Friday evening.

“I am not in favour of violent protests, attacks on important national institutions and setting public and private properties on fire,” he said.

Mr Khilji, deman­d­ed under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order over the May 9 riots, said he had not resigned from the party under pressure.

He said he resigned for the stability of Pakistan and because he joined the party for the country’s betterment, not to destroy public and private property.

“We cannot under any condition remain a party to the violence that took place on May 9,” the minister said.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2023