Ali Muhammad
A newly surfaced audio clip featuring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan has shed light on internal divisions within the party leadership following the fallout from its recent protest strategy in Islamabad.
The audio, confirmed by Ali as authentic during an interview, highlights discrepancies in the execution of the protest plan, adding to the mounting challenges faced by the party after its abrupt decision to postpone the march to D-Chowk.
The protest, initially billed as a “do-or-die” movement, was halted following a government crackdown on demonstrators attempting to reach D-Chowk, triggering widespread criticism within the PTI ranks.
According to Ali Muhammad, the party founder and former prime minister, Imran Khan, had instructed leaders to establish a sit-in at Sangjani in Islamabad’s outskirts, not in the highly sensitive Red Zone.
“Khan Sahib had clearly directed that the final sit-in location would be confirmed upon reaching Islamabad, but he had mentioned Sangjani, not D-Chowk,” Ali stated in the leaked audio.
He also expressed concerns about who gave the directive to head to D-Chowk, asserting that this went against Khan’s explicit orders.
Ali further questioned the role of Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, in organizing the protest. “Why did Aleema Khan make the call instead of the designated party leadership? Khan Sahib had always emphasized that there was no room for hereditary politics in PTI,” he remarked. He added that the party’s chairman or secretary-general should have announced the sit-in location.
The audio also highlights Khan’s intent to use the protests as a platform for negotiations. However, Ali expressed frustration over what he called deviations from this plan, stating that critical decisions should have been left to the PTI leadership.
He pointed out that the presence of Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, in the protest was also not communicated to the party chairman, who only learned of it through Barrister Gohar.
Ali emphasized that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had agreed to the original plan of holding the sit-in at Sangjani. “We should have followed our leader’s orders and avoided unnecessary detours,” he asserted, adding that no one had the authority to override the party founder’s directives.
This leaked audio has amplified internal discord within PTI, underscoring the challenges the party faces in maintaining cohesion and discipline amid political turbulence.
I am a dynamic professional, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management and Resolution, and International Relations. My expertise is particularly focused on South Asian Conflicts and the intricacies of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific Politics. With my skills as a Content Writer, I serve as a bridge between academia and the public, translating complex global issues into accessible narratives. My passion for fostering understanding and cooperation on the national and international stage drives me to make meaningful contributions to peace and global discourse.
