Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, have arrived at the residence of KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, hours after going incommunicado amidst the ongoing government crackdown in Islamabad. Senior PTI leader Taimur Saleem Khan confirmed their whereabouts, stating that both Gandapur and Bushra Bibi were also accompanied by National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub.
Sources indicated that the group, which included Ayub and Swati, spent the night at the Circuit House in Mansehra after fleeing the federal capital. This development comes after Bushra Bibi’s sister, Maryam Riaz Wattoo, raised concerns about the possibility of her sister being abducted. In a video statement, Wattoo expressed her worries, saying, “Conflicting reports have emerged about Bushra’s whereabouts. Some say she’s been arrested, while others suggest she’s in KP. It seems as though she’s been abducted.”
This statement followed PTI’s announcement to call off its “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad after a midnight crackdown by law enforcement, which effectively dispersed PTI workers who had gathered in the capital. The party’s central media cell issued a statement, suspending their peaceful protest due to the government’s actions, which they described as turning the federal capital into a “slaughterhouse” for unarmed citizens.
“We are announcing the temporary suspension of our peaceful protest,” the statement read, adding that future actions would be determined based on guidance from their imprisoned party leader, Imran Khan. PTI also claimed that eight of its workers had been martyred during the protests, naming several victims.
Wattoo further expressed concern, noting that if Bushra Bibi was indeed in KP and safe, she would have contacted her family. She also emphasized that Bushra had previously made it clear that only Imran Khan had the authority to end the sit-in, not the PTI political committee. “Bushra would never abandon Khan or flee under these circumstances,” Wattoo stated. Earlier, Maryam had also asserted that Bushra was still in Islamabad, standing firm despite the ongoing turmoil.
Return to Normalcy
Meanwhile, life in the country is beginning to return to normal following the disruptions caused by the protests. Several key roads, which had been severely affected by roadblocks and security measures, have now been reopened. Motorway authorities confirmed that all motorways are accessible again after being closed for four days. The Islamabad-Lahore motorway (M-2) is now open, providing relief to commuters, while the Lahore-Sialkot motorway has also been restored. Other motorways, including M-3, M-4, and M-5, have resumed service, easing transportation across various regions.
In addition, life in Islamabad, which had been the epicenter of the PTI protests and clashes between party supporters and law enforcement, is starting to return to normal after several days of turmoil.
