Khawaja Asif Claims Imran Khan Agreed to Change Protest Location, But Bushra Bibi Refused

Sialkot: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that while Imran Khan was willing to change the location of the PTI protest, Bushra Bibi was the one who refused. Speaking to the media in Sialkot, Asif explained that on November 24, PTI had called for a sit-in, with their supporters crossing barricades to reach Islamabad. He praised the Rangers and police personnel for their sacrifice, stating that they had thwarted a third attack on the federal government, with several soldiers and policemen martyred and hundreds injured.
Asif further criticized PTI’s leadership for “fleeing the scene” when faced with genuine resistance. He remarked that the party’s leaders had been offered several alternative locations for the protest, and while Imran Khan was open to the suggestion, Bushra Bibi opposed the idea after witnessing the size of the crowd. Asif added that she reportedly said, “Who will go there now?” in reference to the alternative protest locations.
Regarding the casualties, Asif dismissed claims of large-scale fatalities during the protests, stating that while many were injured, no concrete evidence had been presented to confirm mass deaths. He mentioned that figures provided by PTI leaders varied, with some claiming up to 278 deaths, while others cited different numbers, but the reality had shown the toll to be in the single digits. He also noted that no videos of funerals or family members of the deceased had surfaced.
In addition to his comments on the political situation, Asif welcomed the decision to resume PIA’s European flights, calling it a positive development that would allow Pakistan to capture a larger share of the European market. He also suggested that the resumption of these flights could help in the privatization process of PIA, expanding its market reach.