LAHORE: Former federal education minister and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Punjab president Shafqat Mahmood has tendered his resignation from the party office, citing health reasons, while sources claim that chairman Imran Khan asked him to quit for failing to mobilise the masses for the May 25 ‘Azadi March’ in the province.

The ruling PML-N had been taunting the PTI for failing to bring two million people to Islamabad as announced by Imran Khan before launching the march.

In his resignation, Mr Mahmood thanked the party chairman for the trust he had reposed in him while appointing him to the party office. He stated that he could not continue to discharge his duties as PTI Punjab president, but will keep serving the party after regaining health.

Mr Shafqat has stated that the party chairman might appoint a new president of the party in Punjab. Sources say former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid is one of the potential candidate for the PTI’s top slot in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2022