PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai has criticized his party’s leadership, expressing disappointment over the abrupt end of the Islamabad protest. He stated that the leadership’s poor planning and unclear guidance were evident during the three-day demonstration, which began on November 24.
Speaking to the media, Yousafzai said he felt let down by the party’s lack of organization. He noted that, apart from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, no other prominent leader stepped forward to lead the protest. This gap in leadership highlighted serious issues within PTI’s decision-making.
Yousafzai questioned the leadership’s choice of D-Chowk as the focal point for the protest. He asked why there had been no consultation or proper planning for the demonstration. Despite the government’s offer for talks, PTI leaders failed to initiate any negotiations, which he found perplexing.
He also pointed out that strict government action at D-Chowk had been widely expected. The absence of key party figures, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, and Sher Afzal Marwat, further raised doubts about the leadership’s commitment.
The PTI leadership crisis deepened as Yousafzai criticized the decision to mobilize large numbers of party workers without a clear plan. He asked why party members were left to face challenges on their own while leaders failed to show decisive authority.
Yousafzai confirmed that Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, and KP CM Gandapur were in Mansehra and safe. He also addressed rumors, saying both fled in the same vehicle. Federal ministers claimed the chief minister abandoned protesters, leaving dozens of vehicles behind on Jinnah Avenue and Seventh Avenue.
In a late-night press conference, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar mocked Gandapur, suggesting his name be changed to “Ali Amin Bhagoora,” meaning deserter.
Yousafzai has called for an internal investigation into the mismanagement. He emphasized the need to address why D-Chowk was chosen without a strategy and why leadership failed to act decisively during the Islamabad protest. The PTI leadership crisis, he said, needs urgent attention to prevent further damage to the party’s credibility.
