ISLAMABAD: As tensions rise between the ruling coalition and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the upcoming “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad, PTI has announced plans to deliver a “surprise” to the government on November 24.
PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said, “We will give them [the federal government] a surprise, Inshallah.”
The announcement follows a final call from PTI founder Imran Khan, who remained incarcerated since August 2023. Imran urged supporters to march to Islamabad this Sunday to protest alleged rigging in the February 8 elections, arrests of party workers, and the passage of the 26th Amendment.
Barrister Saif accused the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, of launching a preemptive crackdown on PTI supporters. He claimed that 105 party leaders and workers have been arrested, with families facing harassment during police raids. “We are certain the government will use all unconstitutional and illegal tactics to derail our protest,” Saif stated.
In response to security concerns, the Islamabad administration has imposed Section 144 for two months, restricting gatherings in the capital. Addressing questions about the restrictions and roadblocks, Saif assured that PTI has planned countermeasures. “We will reach Islamabad and record our protest, even if force is used against us,” he declared, emphasizing that PTI supporters are being mobilized in a structured and organized manner.
Saif also criticized the federal government for its “discriminatory behavior” toward PTI and urged the public to stand with the party.
Reports suggest PTI lawmakers have been tasked with bringing large numbers of supporters to Islamabad. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, reportedly instructed PTI MNAs and MPAs to mobilize at least 10,000 and 5,000 workers, respectively, and to document their participation through videos.
Reacting to these directives, PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry dismissed the feasibility of PTI’s plans. “There isn’t even enough public transport in Faisalabad to bring 20,000 people,” he remarked. Chaudhry downplayed the nationwide protest call, attributing it to decisions made by Bushra Bibi, which he argued were unrealistic and unlikely to succeed.
While PTI prepares for a massive show of strength, the ruling coalition remains firm in its stance to prevent disruptions, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation in Islamabad.
