Farrukh Habib quits PTI, joins IPP

LAHORE: Former Minister for State and Imran Khan’s stalwart Farrukh Habib finally bade farewell to PTI and announced to join Istehkam e Pakistan Party (IPP) while condemning May 9 incident.

Farrukh Habib, former Insaaf Student Federation (ISF) President who got elected MNA from Faisalabad in 2018 general elections and defeated PMLN’s Abid Sher Ali had been missing since May 9.

He suddenly appeared on media after months and addressed a press conference in which he parted ways with PTI.

Flanked by IPP leaders Aun Chaudhry and Malik Nauman Langrial, addressing a press conference, Farrukh Habib rejected the path of violence adopted by his former leader Imran Khan and stated that May 9 occurrence was highly condemnable.

He stated this would always be remembered as a dark day in the history of Pakistan. He said it was unfortunate that Imran Khan used his stalwarts, team members as a shield for his protection. He said the change should only come through ballot, not through bullet but the PTI chairman did not follow this principle.

He also stated that former prime minister Imran Khan was removed through democratic means which he did not accept. This development, he said, did not let Imran sit peacefully.

Farrukh Habib also grilled his former leader for cipher and using cable for his own political motives. He said Imran was changed through a democratic process but he termed it a US conspiracy and did not pay any heed to the national interest.

He also asked Imran that on high moral grounds, how he could buy watches from Toshakhana. Farrukh stated that he could not see his family for last five months.

He said that the policy adopted by Imran Khan after his removal from the PM office was highly wrong.

It is pertinent to mention that only in the ongoing month of October, Imran Khan’s stalwarts like Usman Dar, Sadaqat Abbasi quit PTI. Moreover, former Punjab Assembly member Sarfaraz Khokhar also quit PTI recently while condemning May 9 incident.

Meanwhile, the PTI core committee stated, “Farrukh Habib’s recovery is welcome, his press conference is part of the same extra-constitutional and illegal series of ousting PTI from politics, which has been going on for the last 17 months,” it said.

The core committee maintained efforts to oust the PTI from the political process are leading to the strengthening of the movement and popularity among the people.

The meeting also strongly condemned the brutal killing of labourers in Balochistan. It expressed heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims, demanding that those responsible for the killing of the workers be brought to justice.