PESHAWAR: Deep differences have emerged in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party after violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies in Islamabad.
The party’s leadership, particularly Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, have faced heavy criticism for their decision to go ahead with the protest at D Chowk despite Imran Khan’s agreement to hold a rally in Sangjani. The decision ultimately exposed PTI activists to state action, which was widely condemned.
Party insiders revealed that senior leaders are now engaged in a blame game, pointing fingers at each other for poor protest planning and ineffective strategy. Some leaders particularly criticized PTI founder chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi for insisting on reaching D Chowk despite alternative proposals. The protest, which was aimed at securing Imran Khan’s release and putting pressure on the government, failed to achieve its goals, leading to differences among various factions within the party.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur dismissed the allegation of internal strife within the party, telling this writer that the protest was a success, calling it Pakistan’s biggest march despite numerous obstacles and the use of force against the party. He said that despite these challenges PTI workers managed to reach D Chowk. However, the government’s use of live ammunition and the resulting casualties were unacceptable. Ali Amin said that PTI as a political party did not support bloodshed. He further said that action will be taken against the federal and Punjab governments for their illegal and brutal behavior. He affirmed that the party will continue to fight for its rights and demands, as it is in line with PTI’s core ideology.
Party sources revealed that some senior leaders accused the central leadership of lacking strategic foresight. Chief Minister’s Spokesperson and Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif revealed that Imran Khan initially agreed to hold a rally in Sangjani, but Bushra Bibi opposed the idea, which hurt the party.
Senior PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai also expressed his disappointment, saying, “Ali Amin Gandapur has been made a scapegoat. Imran Khan had agreed to Sangjani, but Bushra Bibi’s insistence on D Chowk cost the party dearly.
Yousafzai asked whether the party will be led by Bushra Bibi or the leadership? If the leadership lacks power, they should resign. The D Chowk incident is very sad. Where was PTI’s Punjab leadership during all this time?
Further criticizing the lack of planning, he said, “Even if we were to sit at D Chowk, there was no solid planning.” Why was the advisory committee not formed before leaving for Peshawar? Unfortunately, those leading the party did not lead the procession.
Another major criticism was leveled at the logistical shortcomings of the protest, he said. Low turnout and inadequate facilities for participants, especially those who traveled from remote areas, contributed to the protest’s failure. Many workers expressed their frustration over poor arrangements.
Gandapur was praised for withstanding pressure from the party and its workers, but Yousafzai pointed out, “The party needs to reflect on why real faces were neglected. Negotiations with the government were possible. Who rejected them? The government should not have resorted to such brutality, but internal mismanagement is also responsible.
There should be an inquiry as to why they took the party workers to D Chowk and then secretly disappeared from the scene leaving them alone at the mercy of the law enforcement agencies.
A senior PTI leader told The News: “The central leaders present there knew about the crackdown on party workers that night but the poor party workers were not informed about the operation against them.”
Requesting anonymity, he said many senior party leaders had returned home from the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway near Burhan when the containers were removed and the road cleared for traffic. had gone because he had doubts about the character of some people there. “Some of us on the motorway felt that the workers would be misused for the vested interests of some individuals and that is exactly what happened,” he said. Where were Barrister Gauhar and Salman Akram Raja and other senior PTI leaders? Leaders like him call themselves the face of PTI, yet he was absent. Only Ali Amin Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Umar Ayub, Ali Asghar and a few others stood with the workers,” Shaukat Yousafzai said in a separate video message.
He revealed that Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif had informed party members of Imran Khan’s instructions to shift the protest to an alternative venue, as suggested by the government but the plan was reportedly blocked. . “Why were these instructions not followed? Barrister Saif claims that Bushra Bibi opposed the move. While we respect her as Khan’s wife, she has no leadership in the PTI. “The party leadership should clarify who allowed this intervention,” he asserted. “Why did the leadership not hold meaningful talks with the government?” He questioned, demanding transparency from the party’s decision makers.
Rejecting the government’s allegations that PTI protesters were armed, Shaukat Yousafzai said, “If we had weapons, why did we not retaliate during the state’s violence?” These are baseless allegations meant to justify the crackdown.
He expressed grief over the loss of lives irrespective of affiliation. “It’s sad to see people die, be it by the government or by us. Such violence is unacceptable and a stain on our nation.
Directly challenging the PTI leadership, Shaukat Yousafzai demanded accountability. If our leaders cannot face the situation or stand with the workers, they should resign. This is unfair to PTI and Imran Khan. Leadership is about action, not titles. Our failures in Islamabad are the result of poor planning and lack of unity.
Yousafzai reiterated that workers’ loyalty is to Imran Khan and not to individual leaders. We protested for Imran Khan and his vision, not for anyone else. Leaders are obliged to give explanations to workers and they should reflect on their mistakes. Without accountability and reforms, we risk destroying PTI’s reputation and Imran Khan’s legacy,” he warned.
According to the report of INP news agency, 7 new cases were registered in three police stations of Attock against other PTI leaders including Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur and former president Dr. Arif Alvi. Cases were registered under 23 different sections including terrorism, attempted murder, vandalism and others.
Meanwhile, one-day physical remand of 35 PTI workers arrested during the protest in Islamabad was approved. As the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge was on leave on Wednesday, 5 accused from Hasan Abdal police station and 30 accused from other police stations were produced before the Rawalpindi Sessions Judge. The accused are facing charges under terrorism-related provisions and were scheduled to appear before the ATC on Thursday (today).
In addition, all regional police officers and unit heads of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been directed to provide details of tear gas shells in their areas to ascertain whether any of the stockpile has been misused. These instructions were issued after some media reports said that PTI protesters had used tear gas shells available with the KP Police against the police in Islamabad. “All Regional Police Officers and Unit Heads are requested to inform the Central Police Office Peshawar about the available stock of tear gas shells and details of their use during the last week”. CPO).
In another development, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi criticized PTI for creating law and order situation in Islamabad and said that restoring peace in KP is more important than any other issue. The Governor while holding a press conference on his return from Umrah said that I am going to Kuram tomorrow and I invite the Chief Minister to meet the people there and find a common solution to this serious problem.
The governor told media that more than 150 people have lost their lives and hundreds more displaced in Karam since October, but neither the chief minister nor any other leader visited the troubled district. He said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority had nothing to provide when contacted to help the affected people in Karam.
The Governor also invited the Chief Minister to the All Parties Conference to be held in the first week of December at the Governor’s House on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Kundi said Gandapur and Bushra Bibi fled the protest on Tuesday night, leaving poor workers behind in the federal capital.