Protest
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political committee held a crucial meeting last night to discuss the possibility of calling off the November 24 protest march in light of recent developments.
The deliberations were reportedly influenced by the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision and the controversy surrounding a recent video statement made by Bushra Bibi.
Sources within PTI revealed that the majority of committee members leaned towards canceling the protest march. Their argument centered on respecting the IHC’s decision and exploring dialogue with the government as a potential alternative.
The members expressed the belief that negotiations could lead to a resolution without escalating tensions, particularly given the challenges the party is currently facing.
During the meeting, it was resolved that the final decision on the protest should rest with the party’s jailed founder and chairman, Imran Khan.
A delegation of PTI leaders attempted to visit Adiala Jail to seek Khan’s input on the recommendation to suspend the protest and prioritize dialogue. However, the delegation was unable to meet with him, delaying the decision-making process.
In parallel, the issue of Bushra Bibi’s controversial video statement, which had sparked significant backlash, was also discussed.
Party insiders indicated that most political committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the statement.
Some argued that the PTI should publicly distance itself from Bushra Bibi’s remarks and allow her to respond to the controversy independently. Despite these discussions, the committee could not reach a consensus on how to address the matter publicly.
Meanwhile, the party’s leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, convened a separate meeting in Peshawar to analyze the implications of the protest and the party’s overall strategy.
Advisers close to the leadership, including Barrister Saif, hinted at the possibility of challenging the IHC decision in court. However, no concrete decision has been finalized yet.
These discussions underscore PTI’s internal struggles in navigating the political and public challenges it faces, with multiple issues creating division within the party’s ranks. As the leadership continues to deliberate, the fate of the November 24 protest remains uncertain.
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