ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai voiced his disappointment over the abrupt conclusion of the Islamabad protest, criticizing the party leadership for their lack of direction and planning.
Yousafzai lamented that the leadership had “disappointed” him, particularly during the three-day protest that began on November 24 and ended abruptly late at night on Nov 26 at D-Chowk.
He expressed concern over the absence of clear guidance throughout the protest, highlighting that aside from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, no other leader stepped up to lead the demonstration.
According to Yousafzai, the lack of consultation and strategic planning was evident, especially in the decision to focus on D-Chowk as the primary protest site.
Yousafzai questioned why the party did not engage with the government despite its offer for negotiations, noting that it was widely anticipated that the authorities would adopt strict measures at D-Chowk. He called for an internal investigation to determine why this location was chosen without proper consideration of potential consequences.
He also raised concerns about the absence of key figures like Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, and Sher Afzal Marwat during the protest, emphasizing that their presence could have strengthened the leadership during critical moments.
Reflecting on the disorganization, Yousafzai criticized the mobilization of numerous party workers despite the leadership’s apparent lack of decision-making authority. He stressed the need for better coordination and accountability within the party to avoid such failures in the future.
Yousafzai assured that Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, and KP Chief Minister Gandapur were safe and currently in Mansehra.
According to federal ministers, the two had fled in the same vehicle following the crackdown on protesters.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the protest was marked by chaos. Security forces launched a raid on PTI supporters in Islamabad, leading to hundreds of arrests. Protesters abandoned dozens of vehicles on Jinnah Avenue and Seventh Avenue as they fled, while women and children were later seen scavenging recyclables from the burnt truck used by Bushra Bibi during the protest.
