PTI Leadership Divided Over Protest Failure, Blame Placed on Bushra Bibi

Islamabad: Following the failure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad, deep divisions have surfaced within the party leadership, with key leaders holding Bushra Bibi responsible for the march’s unsuccessful outcome. According to a report published in Dawn, sources close to PTI’s leadership revealed that former First Lady Bushra Bibi’s stubbornness, along with logistical and technical obstacles, derailed efforts to peacefully resolve the protest and bring it to a conclusion outside Islamabad, rather than taking it to D-Chowk.
Bashra Bibi’s refusal to heed calls for a peaceful resolution and her insistence on leading the protest herself are seen as the primary reasons behind the chaos. Sources revealed that despite efforts by party leaders, including the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to persuade PTI to hold the protest outside Islamabad, Bushra Bibi remained adamant that the march should proceed to D-Chowk, where tensions flared.
Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, an aide to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, confirmed that attempts were made starting Monday night to convince PTI’s leadership to move the protest to Sangjani, located on the outskirts of Islamabad, instead of entering the city center. He added that although party chairman Imran Khan had initially been reluctant, after discussions, he agreed to halt the march beyond the city limits, contingent upon concrete talks with the government that would lead to his release and the withdrawal of cases against him and other party leaders.
According to sources, negotiations were underway, including an attempt to arrange a phone call between imprisoned PTI chairman Imran Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur, but technical difficulties delayed the message delivery. By the time communication was restored, the protest had already entered Islamabad.
Bushra Bibi’s decision to take charge of the protest and lead it personally, despite initial plans for her to remain in Peshawar, complicated the situation further. The decision fueled enthusiasm among PTI supporters, but it also led to growing friction within the party’s leadership. Party leaders, including Ali Amin Gandapur, were reportedly sidelined, and when a vehicle ran over Rangers personnel, the situation became more volatile.
In the aftermath, Barrister Saif placed the blame squarely on Bushra Bibi for the protest’s failure, stating that the administration had suggested holding the rally in the outskirts of Islamabad, to which Imran Khan had agreed. However, Bushra Bibi insisted on proceeding to D-Chowk.
Shaukat Yousafzai accused Bushra Bibi of scapegoating Ali Amin Gandapur, claiming that everyone had agreed to head to Sangjani, except for her. He also raised questions about the absence of key leaders, including Salman Akram Raja, asking why the protest was directed to D-Chowk after Imran Khan had agreed to the alternative location.
Shir Afzal Marwat, another senior party member, confirmed that both he and Ali Amin Gandapur were opposed to the idea of marching to D-Chowk and preferred the protest to remain at a safer location. He also questioned the wisdom of exposing party members to potential violence, stating, “What could they do with the bullets?”
The internal discord highlights growing tensions within PTI as the party grapples with its leadership and strategic direction in the face of ongoing political challenges.