Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Thursday criticized the party’s central leadership for mismanaging the Islamabad march, which he claimed had exacerbated the challenges faced by incarcerated party founder Imran Khan.
“The central leadership is entirely responsible for this situation,” Yousafzai remarked in a statement. He questioned why the decision to hold a sit-in at Sangjani, reportedly instructed by Khan, was disregarded. “In politics, strategies must adapt to circumstances,” he added.
The PTI’s “do-or-die” protest for Khan’s release ended with nearly 1,000 arrests, while PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja alleged that 20 people had died. He announced plans to sue the government, the Ministry of Interior, and the interior minister over the incident.
Islamabad police chief Ali Rizvi denied claims of using live ammunition, stating that 600 protesters were detained in Tuesday’s operation, raising the total to 954 since the protests began on Sunday.
Yousafzai lamented missed opportunities, attributing the protest’s failure to a lack of consultation and coordination among the leadership. Responding to a question, he supported Bushra Bibi’s public campaign for Khan’s release but questioned the central leadership’s inactivity.
Yousafzai also criticized PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Sher Afzal Marwat, and others for their absence during the protest. He accused the leadership of ignoring Khan’s agreement to hold the sit-in at Sangjani, instead yielding to Bushra Bibi’s preference for D-Chowk, which he said cost the party dearly.
“Leadership should either take charge or resign,” he stressed, highlighting the chaotic handling of the sit-in. He praised a few leaders like Gandapur, Asad Qaiser, Omar Ayub, and Ali Asghar for standing with workers but pointed out the lack of a clear plan.
Yousafzai also noted logistical failures, such as poor facilities and low turnout, which left workers disappointed. He accused the leadership of abandoning workers at D-Chowk, exposing them to harsh police action without support.
He called for an inquiry to determine why workers were misled and left vulnerable, adding that leadership requires accountability. “If our leaders cannot face challenges or stand with workers, they should step aside. This failure reflects a lack of unity and planning,” he asserted.
Yousafzai urged the PTI leadership to prioritize accountability and reforms to safeguard the party’s credibility and preserve Imran Khan’s legacy. “Workers are loyal to Khan and his vision, not individual leaders. Leadership must own their mistakes and rebuild trust,” he concluded.
