K-P PTI frustrated with central leadership

Senior members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have expressed frustration with their central leadership, stating they were left deeply disappointed by their absence in the Islamabad protest.

They questioned why the offer to protest at Sangjani was not accepted and why Bushra Bibi decided to proceed to D-Chowk.

In his statement, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai criticised the leadership during the Islamabad protest"Where was the leadership during the protest?"

He was disappointed in the central leadership and questioned why negotiations were not conducted successfully. Shaukat Yousafzai questioned why the offer to protest at Sangjani was not considered and why Bushra Bibi chose D-Chowk for the protest.

He noted that Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur were in Mansehra, and called for an investigation into why D-Chowk was selected as the protest site.

He added that the PTI leadership had severely disappointed its supporters, pointing out that aside from Ali Amin Gandapur, no other prominent leader came forward during the protest. He highlighted a lack of consultation, coordination, and strategy within the party.

Criticising senior party leaders, he asked, "Where were Barrister Gohar and Salman Akram Raja? Similarly, Sher Afzal Marwat was also absent." Shaukat questioned the rationale behind bringing such a large number of workers to the protest when the leadership lacked the authority to make decisive moves.

He called for an internal investigation into why D-Chowk was chosen despite prior knowledge that the government would take action there, and why the offer to protest at Sangjani was rejected.

It is worth mentioning that during PTI's major protest in Islamabad, negotiations between the party and the government over the protest site were ongoing, while clashes occurred in several locations between police and protesters.

PTI leaders and workers had reached D-Chowk, but later that night, Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur, and other party leaders suddenly left the protest site in vehicles, fleeing to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Meanwhile, PTI sources revealed that all party officials, provincial ministers, and assembly members were monitored during the sit-in.

Evidence has been collected to show who stood firm and who left after a mere photo session. Some members and a former governor reportedly spent the night at rest areas before quietly leaving, while others failed even to bring protesters to the sit-in.

Prominent K-P leaders like Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Atif Khan, Shahid Khattak, Irfan Saleem, Arbab Asim, Suhail Afridi, Malik, and former Deputy Speaker Mehmood Jan remained present at D-Chowk until late.

However, key figures such as former Speaker Shibli Faraz, former Governor Shah Farman, Shaukat Yousafzai, Asad Qaiser, and provincial ministers Faisal Tarakai and Shahram Tarakai were absent. Some leaders reportedly took photos in areas like Swabi and then fled.