PTI, establishment allegedly held talks before Nov 24 protest, sources report

Ahead of the November 24 protest in Islamabad, contacts between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the military establishment have come to light, revealing behind-the-scenes negotiations that ultimately fell apart.

Internal discussions from PTI's parliamentary party meeting have revealed key details about the buildup to the protest. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur briefed party members about the developments, explaining that efforts were underway to de-escalate the situation before and after the protest.

Sources within PTI stated that negotiations between the party and the establishment were progressing, with attempts to persuade PTI founder Imran Khan to call off the protest. However, these talks collapsed when Imran Khan went ahead with announcing the protest on November 24.

The decision to announce the protest date reportedly caught negotiators off guard, especially as PTI had already scheduled rallies in several cities in the lead-up to the Islamabad protest.

As the protest date drew nearer, reports indicated that both Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were prepared to take part in the demonstration. However, Bushra Bibi's decision to head towards D-Chowk instead of a proposed rally site led to an emergency security shift.

Gandapur confirmed that Bushra Bibi was moved to a safe location by the authorities following government actions against the protestors. The move was described as necessary for her security, with the CM adding that Bushra Bibi is a respected figure and deserved protection.

The fallout between PTI and the establishment has grown deeper following the failed negotiations, with sources noting that any future attempts to reconcile could take significant time.

Despite this, PTI has decided to postpone further protests in Islamabad, though party members have expressed their readiness to support future calls for action.

Meanwhile, PTI's Information Secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, denied reports of another protest scheduled for December 7, calling the claims a "rumour."