PTI Protests in Peshawar and Swabi During Imran Khan Visit Day; Deep Rifts Emerge in Party Leadership
Peshawar: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged protests in Peshawar and Swabi on the day of the scheduled meeting with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, but the demonstrations exposed widening internal divisions within the party’s leadership.
Former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai, speaking to the media, said that today’s protest at Swabi Interchange was announced by Ahmed Khan Niazi, while the party’s official instructions — issued by the chief minister — directed workers to gather at Adiala Jail. According to him, elected representatives would head to Adiala, whereas the Swabi protest was merely a “token protest,” not formally approved by the party.
Yousafzai added that another protest was underway outside the Islamabad High Court. He claimed that he had been threatened with the imposition of Governor’s Rule, questioning whether such a move would improve the situation. “The government is issuing wrong threats just to save its power,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the protest convoy from Peshawar, led by PTI leader Ahmed Khan Niazi, departed for Swabi Interchange. Niazi told the media that today’s protest aimed to demand the release of the PTI founder, and that the motorway would be blocked at Swabi. He said demonstrations would continue until directions came from Imran Khan’s sisters, adding that today’s protest was limited to Swabi only.
The convoy reached Charsadda, where it was received by 80–100 workers before moving again toward Swabi. However, party insiders revealed that the Peshawar protest weakened due to internal division, with no major leaders or members of the assembly present at the toll plaza.
Sources also confirmed that provincial minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s cabinet member, Ali A. Sohail Afridi, decided not to participate in the Swabi protest. The chief minister is also expected to skip the planned demonstrations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
According to sources, no consultation was held with the provincial leadership before the protest announcement, further highlighting deepening rifts within PTI.
