Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Says PTI’s Civil Disobedience Movement Failed Before It Even Started

ISLAMABAD:Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s civil disobedience movement has already failed, even before it could gain momentum. He explained that such movements succeed only when the public has no reliance on the state, but at present, the state is providing citizens with all basic necessities.

In a conversation with a private TV channel, Khawaja Asif reflected on previous failed attempts to disrupt Islamabad, stating that those movements had also ended in failure. He added that civil disobedience movements in the past were only successful during the British colonial era.

Addressing PTI’s calls for civil disobedience, he questioned, “Who would want to deprive their family of essential services like electricity and gas by refusing to pay bills?” He reminded that during the Islamabad sit-ins, PTI chairman Imran Khan had incited people to burn bills, but no one followed through with the call.

Regarding former First Lady Bushra Bibi’s role in PTI’s political activities, Khawaja Asif said that while she may lack political understanding, she is well-versed in financial matters. He also responded to Bushra Bibi’s claims about being abandoned at D-Chowk, saying, “If she was left alone, then why did Umar Ayub and Ali Amin Gandapur leave her and leave? I saw a video in which she herself was leaving the area.”

The Defence Minister also commented on Imran Khan’s shifting stance on negotiations. “Imran Khan always said he would negotiate with the establishment, but now reports suggest he is willing to negotiate with political parties,” Khawaja Asif said, adding that such discussions should ideally begin in the assembly. “If Imran Khan wants to run the assembly, he should start by engaging in genuine opposition,” he stated.

Khawaja Asif further pointed out that no PTI leadership from Punjab was visible at D-Chowk, and even from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no Member of National Assembly (MNA) had shown up. This, he said, reflected the lack of leadership commitment to the movement.

This comes after PTI founder Imran Khan threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement if his demands were not met.