Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Parvez Khattak, Sheikh Rasheed, and six other political figures affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had their diplomatic passports cancelled on Saturday by the federal government. The action is being taken in the midst of a wave of incarcerations, legal harassment, and public campaigns of defamation against the PTI and its senior leadership. Several PTI heavyweights have announced their departure from the party in the last week, including Fawad Chaudhry, Dr. Shireen Mazari, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi , Amir Kayani, Jai Prakash, Aftab Siddiqui, and Sanjay Gangwani. Some, like Dr. Mazari and Chaudhry, have also declared their complete withdrawal from politics.

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There are many rumors that Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who has been detained since May 11 and whose whereabouts have been unknown to the local police in front of the Islamabad High Court, may soon leave the party. The Pakistani Attorney General has told the court that Qureshi is being imprisoned at Adiala Jail.

On May 24, immediately after being released from Adiala Jail, former federal minister Asad Umar announced his resignation as secretary general of the PTI. But Umar made it clear that he was staying with the PTI.