PTI Lawmakers Face Financial Strain Over Islamabad March, Tasked with Bringing Thousands of Supporters

Islamabad:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from both national and provincial assemblies have been assigned the responsibility of bringing thousands of party workers to the Islamabad march scheduled for November 24. According to party directives, national assembly members are expected to mobilize 5,000 workers, while provincial assembly members are tasked with gathering 10,000 participants. However, the PTI lawmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are facing financial difficulties, as they are required to cover all expenses for the mobilization themselves.

Several PTI members have expressed concerns about the financial burden, as many of them come from middle-class backgrounds and cannot afford the multi-million rupee costs associated with organizing a large-scale protest. “Most of our members are from the middle class. It is beyond our means to arrange such significant funds for the protest,” one assembly member revealed.

Self-Funding the March

PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that party members will be responsible for organizing transportation, food, and other logistical arrangements for their supporters. “Every member will bear the full expenses of their respective caravans, including transport, food, and other arrangements. If members can afford election expenses after receiving their tickets, they should also be able to handle these costs,” he said in an interview with V News.

Despite these assurances, the financial strain is evident, especially in KP, where the expenses are estimated to be in the millions. “The KP government is only providing around 2 to 4 lakh rupees for the march, but the total costs are much higher,” a member from Peshawar commented. “For 5,000 people, I need at least 300 large vehicles, plus food, and other logistical costs. The total will exceed one crore rupees. I already spent over a crore on the Lahore and D-Chowk protests, and now again, all expenses are being put on us.”

Struggling with Financial Reality

Another PTI lawmaker from a remote district in KP shared concerns over the feasibility of bringing 10,000 people to Islamabad. “It’s impossible to bring that many people, especially in this cold weather. For 10,000, I would need over 600 vehicles, and the cost for just transportation would exceed one crore rupees,” he said. “I’m an MP from a middle-class background, living on my salary, and I don’t have the resources to bear such an expense.”

The concerns are echoed by other members, including a lawmaker from Malakand, who questioned the logic behind such large expenses. “How can an ordinary member of the assembly afford millions in expenses? Members cannot engage in such corruption or misuse government resources. Not everyone is a billionaire to afford such huge costs.”

Pressure from Party Leadership

Bashira Bibi, the wife of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, has reportedly made it clear that strict action will be taken against any member who fails to mobilize the required number of supporters. “Those who fail to bring out workers will face consequences,” she warned. PTI members from KP are particularly worried, as the directive from party leadership requires them to bring large numbers of people, despite the overwhelming financial burden.

A PTI lawmaker from Peshawar stated that, “We’ve been given instructions to bring 5,000 people, but no one is offering any help with the expenses. The entire financial burden falls on us.”

Logistical Challenges for MPs

PTI lawmakers are facing not only financial challenges but also logistical ones. Workers expect good transportation and quality arrangements, and MPs are under pressure to meet these expectations to ensure their supporters participate and show loyalty. “Workers demand better arrangements, good food, and a comfortable journey,” another PTI lawmaker pointed out. “If we don’t meet these demands, they won’t come.”

Party’s Expectations and Final Preparations

Sources within the party have confirmed that Bashira Bibi is personally overseeing the preparations for the march and has instructed PTI leadership in Punjab to ensure the success of the protest by all means necessary. The party is optimistic that if KP can deliver one lakh people, the march will be considered a success, and a sit-in at D-Chowk will follow. Bashira Bibi is expected to report the outcomes directly to Imran Khan, increasing the pressure on MPs to deliver.

As the final call for the march approaches, the focus remains on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI hopes to mobilize large numbers despite the financial and logistical hurdles faced by lawmakers.