PTI founder Imran Khan addressed internal party criticism of the demonstration’s outcome and called for unity among party officials on Tuesday, clarifying that his wife, former first lady Bushra Bibi, led last week’s Islamabad rally on his orders.
The party’s top leadership and supporters quickly left the Red Zone in the early hours of November 27 after a day of fierce clashes between security forces and PTI demonstrators around the federal capital.
The three-day protests claimed at least six lives, including the deaths of a police officer and three Rangers officers who were struck by a speeding car, according to officials and hospital sources. Claims and rebuttals about alleged legal causes of death
One of the primary points of difference between the opposition party and the administration is the enforcement action taken against the PTI marchers. The subsequent crackdown resulted in the arrest of several party workers and the filing of numerous charges.
Since then, the PTI has been reflecting on the failure of the protests last week, paying close attention to Bushra Bibi’s leadership and her disagreements with other party officials regarding the protest site.
Imran addressed the problem and unequivocally stated: “I had instructed Bushra Bibi on how to take the protest to Islamabad,” according to a post on his X account with the details of his conversation with journalists today. No matter what she did, she followed my directions.
Leaders and members of the party must “unite and organise themselves and prepare for the next phase of their struggle for true freedom against the mafia that has imposed itself on the country,” Imran said, urging unity within the party ranks.
Imran described last week’s actions as the “darkest chapter in Pakistani history” and claimed to have learned about them today.
He was cited as stating, “I have demanded that the Supreme Court establish an unbiased judicial commission to look into the massacre of innocent and peaceful citizens and to punish those who ordered the massacre and those who participated in it severely.”
According to Imran, the PTI would not remain silent on the subject and would keep speaking out. He stated that he was still seeking additional information and speaking with others on the matter. He also gave the party leadership instructions to bring legal action against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and those involved.
“As quickly as feasible, the information from hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on the deceased and injured should be released, and CCTV video of To ensure that evidence is not lost as it was on May 9, Safe City and all hospitals should be protected.
“I’ve given the KP CM and my party instructions to assume responsibility for the welfare and care of the martyrs’ and injured people’s families. He was cited as stating, “Give your all to the recovery of those who are missing and support the legal teams pursuing the cases of those who are arrested.”
Credible sources aware with the backroom operations told Dawn that last-ditch attempts to amicably address the issue of PTI’s protest march towards Islamabad’s D-Chowk were thwarted by technological and physical barriers as well as Bushra Bibi’s resistance.
Bushra Bibi, according to the source, “was aggressive.” She was rebellious,” she continued, adding that she insisted on speaking with the party chairman directly via video chat rather than listening to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. However, this was not feasible due to a number of technical difficulties.
Bushra Bibi was initially expected to remain in Peshawar, according to the sources, but when she abruptly chose to board the truck and take the lead in the demonstration, everything changed.
According to other party officials who spoke to Dawn, Punjabi leaders were adamant that Bushra Bibi’s “water-tight orders” to all ticket holders and office bearers placed them on the defensive and forced them to comply with directives without question.
PTI members were furious and incensed by the party leadership’s inability to take the initiative. After carrying out Imran’s last call for protest and sit-in in Islamabad, party workers are also angry that they were abandoned and left unsure of how to react in difficult circumstances.
Pindi ATC requests an explanation from Adiala Jail for not meeting with Imran’s sisters.
Meanwhile, earlier today, the Ranwalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) asked the Adiala Jail administration for information regarding the denial of Imran’s sisters’ request to contact him.
Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan, his sisters, filed a case in court. In the petition, the Adiala Jail superintendent was named as a respondent.
Based on the motion, the court sent out a notice asking the jail administration to respond within two hours explaining why the sisters were not allowed to meet Imran.
Aleema told reporters outside Adiala Jail that her brother still had “one last card to play,” but he would not discuss it with anyone or make it public just yet. “It won’t be used properly,” she stated.
For the first time since the party’s “final call” rally in Islamabad last week, senior PTI leaders met Imran at the Adiala Jail a day ago.
Imran was “not aware of the developments during the protest as he didn’t have access to newspapers and television,” according to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar.
In the D-Chowk protest case, Omar Ayub was granted bail.
In the D-Chowk demonstration case, the Islamabad ATC separately awarded Ayub Omar Ayub Khan, the Leader of the Opposition in the National, bail of Rs 55,000.
For the “violent protests,” the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Ayub, Imran, his wife Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 92 other people.
Following the rally, numerous cases were filed and a large number of party workers were arrested in the subsequent crackdown.
Today’s session was presided over by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who also visited with Ayub in case number 540.
The PTI leader and his attorney, Babar Awan, were brought before the court.
The court stated that after the Rs 50,000 bail was approved, the arrest warrant will be revoked.
Awan asked that the bond be lowered to Rs 25,000 by the court. Judge Supra, however, ordered the deposit of Rs. 55,000.
The judge ordered an investigation into Ayub and postponed the case hearing until December 10.
In seven cases, PTI’s Marwat granted bail.
In seven cases, PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat was also granted bail by the Islamabad ATC in exchange for a Rs 5,000 bond.
The Secretariat, Kohsar, Ramna, Tarnool, and Karachi Company police stations received the other cases.
Judge Sipra approved the bail requested by Marwat and his attorney, Ali Azad. On December 10, the court called the police and documents.