Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan's close aide Asad Umar resigns as PTI's Secretary General

Ousted Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's suffered anor jolt as he of his economic team and one of his close aides As Umar resigned from all party positions, amid government's crackdown on opposition over May 9 violence.

Umar, who was Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's Secretary General, announced stepping down from all party positions shortly after he was released from iala Jail on Wednesday.

"Not possible for me to le party under se circumstances. I am resigning as Secretary General and core committee member of PTI," he said at a press conference.

Umar said he was not resigning from party offices “under pressure”.

He, however, clarified that he has not left PTI but only resigned from party positions.

Umar said that most dangerous thing that happened on May 9 was that military installations were attacked.

"I think Imran Khan himself has best explained army’s status in Pakistan. He said that we would have seen a similar fate as Syria’s if it was not for a strong army like ours. Khan sb said that my country needs my army more than me," he was quoted as saying by Express Tribune newspaper.

His resignation came after former information minister Faw Chaudhry on Wednesday resigned from PTI.

Chaudhry's quitting h followed former minister for human rights Shireen Mazari's resignation. Mazari condemned actions of former prime minister's supporters who attacked and torched sensitive defence installations across Pakistan on May 9.

On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary Rangers arrested Khan from Islamab High Court (IHC) premises.

His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including Lahore Corps Commander's House, Mianwali airbase and ISI building in Faisalab in response to Khan's arrest.

Army hequarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also stormed by mob for first time.

Police put death toll in violent clashes to 10 while Khan's party claims 40 of its workers lost ir lives in firing by security personnel.

Thousands of Khan’s supporters were arrested following violence that powerful Army described as a “dark day” in history of country.

Several top PTI leers, including Umar, Chaudary and Mazari, were arrested in wake of unrest.

"I feel like re should be a transparent investigation against those involved in se incidents. But thousands of PTI workers and supporters were arrested, a lot of m are innocent... it is also important that y are released as soon as possible," Umar said.

former finance minister said that army does not comprise just a few generals whose names are heard on TV, but thousands of soldiers who sacrifice ir lives for safety of nation.

While Khan sees exodus of top leers as “forced divorces” at “gunpoint”, political experts suggest that it is an attempt to factionalise PTI, report said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that those involved in attacks on military installations would be tried in military courts while those charged with attacks on civilian targets would be prosecuted under civilian laws.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday government was mulling a possible ban on Khan's PTI party following attacks by his supporters on military installations after former prime minister's arrest.

Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan.