ISLAMABAD: Malik Amin Aslam, climate minister under then prime minister Imran Khan and architect of his flagship Billion Tree Tsunami project, announced his departure from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party on Thursday.
Aslam expressed his “disillusionment” with the party, attributing his decision to an exposed “agenda” that became apparent during the nationwide protests following the brief arrest of Khan which the Supreme Court declared unlawful.
During a news conference in Islamabad, Aslam voiced his concerns over the violent protests, which he said left him disturbed. He criticised the opposition party for resorting to “unlawful actions” and engaging in the “targeting of military installations” during the protests.
“The May 9 incidents shook me to the core, as party workers took the law into their own hands,” Aslam expressed. He further emphasised that these rallies were specifically aimed at military installations, raising questions about the “motives behind such actions.”
Aslam called for a thorough investigation into the matter, highlighting the need for the party leadership to address and resolve the issues at hand. He firmly said that individuals advocating for the “agenda” did not have the best interests of the party at heart.
While clarifying that his decision was not influenced by external pressures, the climate activist asserted that he could no longer align himself with such an “agenda.”
Aslam’s decision to quit the party came a day after a group of junior party members — including Aamir Kayani and Mahmood Moulvi — left the party over a “difference of opinion”.
