On Thursday, Shaukat Yousafzai, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, criticized the party’s central leadership for mismanaging the Islamabad march, which he said worsened the plight of the incarcerated party founder, Imran Khan.
Yousafzai attributed the setbacks directly to the central leadership, questioning their decision-making process. He challenged the omission of instructions for a sit-in at Sangjani, emphasizing the importance of strategic political decisions.
The PTI’s protest, aimed at securing Khan’s release, led to the detention of nearly 1,000 supporters. PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja reported that at least 20 fatalities occurred, prompting the party to plan legal actions against the government, the Ministry of Interior, and the interior minister. Meanwhile, Islamabad’s police chief, Ali Rizvi, clarified that the operations did not involve live ammunition and confirmed the arrest of 954 protesters since Sunday.
Reflecting on the protest, Yousafzai lamented the lack of proper consultation and strategic foresight. He supported Bushra Bibi’s decision to protest for her husband’s release but questioned the absence and involvement of other key leaders during the crucial period.
Yousafzai criticized strategic decisions, particularly Bushra Bibi’s shift to D-Chowk, which he claimed significantly cost the party. He also highlighted the protest’s logistical issues, such as low turnout and inadequate facilities, which demoralized participants, especially those from distant areas.
He praised Gandapur for enduring pressure but stressed the need for the party to reflect on why negotiations with the government were unsuccessful and why key figures were sidelined.
Demanding an inquiry into the abandonment of protesters at D-Chowk, Yousafzai called for accountability within PTI’s leadership. He emphasized, “Leadership is about action, not titles. Our failures in Islamabad stem from poor planning and disunity.”
Concluding his remarks, Yousafzai reaffirmed the workers’ loyalty to Imran Khan and his vision, urging leaders to admit their mistakes and initiate reforms to preserve PTI’s integrity and Khan’s legacy.
