Shafqat Mahmood retires from politics after 34 years

LAHORE: Shafqat Mahmood, a former prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced on Sunday that he is retiring from politics after 34 years. He emphasized that this decision was made voluntarily and not due to any external pressure.

“Thirty-four years ago, I resigned from a government job to enter politics. After much contemplation, I have decided to retire,” Mahmood, a former federal minister, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Following the May 9 attacks on state installations, many politicians left the former ruling party or quit politics altogether. The PTI claimed that these departures were due to coercion. Among those who left PTI are Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, Fayazul Hassan Chohan, Maleeka Bokhari, Ali Zaidi, and Musarrat Jamshed Cheema.

While some attempted to rejoin PTI, the current leadership, which includes many new members, has decided not to reinstate these deserters.

Mahmood clarified, “There is no pressure on me to leave PTI, and I do not plan to join any other political party.”

He cited “time” and his “age” as the reasons for his decision to retire.

Reflecting on his long political career, Mahmood mentioned experiencing many highs and lows. He served as a member of both the Senate and the National Assembly and held positions as a federal and provincial minister. He humorously noted that he also spent time in jail during his political journey.

As the federal education minister, Mahmood introduced the Single National Curriculum and managed educational affairs during the challenging COVID-19 period.

During this time, he became popular among students for implementing various relaxations and passing students without exams.

Mahmood expressed gratitude to Imran Khan and PTI for giving him the opportunity to serve, and he thanked the voters of his constituency for electing him to parliament twice.

“I am satisfied that I have always performed all my responsibilities honestly and diligently. Thankfully, no one has ever made any allegations against me,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mahmood shared that he plans to spend the rest of his life teaching and writing. He also encouraged the youth to participate in politics.