LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Samsam Bukhari on Tuesday quit the party over May 9 events.

The former PTI Punjab minister condemned the May 9 incidents following the arrest of its chief Imran Khan. “I do not believe in the politics of violence. All institutions are ours and we have to work together,” he said in a statement.

It is learnt that Mr Bukhari met Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron Jahangir Khan Tareen and may join it.

Earlier, a purported audio leak featured Samsam Bukhari in which it was presumed that May 9 incidents were the outcome of a “premeditated conspiracy.”

PML-N leader Atta Tarar had presented the audio before the media.

In the leaked audio, Bukhari was allegedly heard saying that a core committee meeting had been convened three days before the May 9 incident attended by prominent PTI leaders in which it was purportedly decided that a protest would be organised against the military in case Mr Khan was arrested.

He was also heard saying that PTI’s Shafqat Mehmood had cautioned against protest outside the Corps Commander’s House, but his advice went unheeded.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2023