PTI Leadership in Discord After Protest Failures: Salman Ahmad Questions Bushra Bibi’s Role
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing increasing internal division following its unsuccessful protest on November 24, which tragically resulted in multiple fatalities. Imran Khan’s close aide and PTI supporter, Salman Ahmad, has raised concerns over the actions of Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, during the protests. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Salman Ahmad questioned why Bushra Bibi, who had promised protesters she would stay at D Chowk until her husband’s release, decided to retreat as the situation escalated.
“Bushra Bibi pledged to remain at D Chowk until her husband was freed, insisting, ‘I will never leave you. You promise me that you will not leave D Chowk without Khan.’ But why retreat when the situation was heading towards a massacre?” wrote Salman Ahmad, who has been vocal in his criticism of Bushra Bibi’s role in PTI’s protest strategy.
Bushra Bibi had been a central figure in leading the November 24 protests, along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Despite government demands to relocate the protest to Sangjani instead of D Chowk, Bushra Bibi refused. However, when the government crackdown began on the night of November 26, the PTI leadership, including Bushra Bibi, was absent from the scene.
At least six people died during the protest, including a policeman and three Rangers officials who were run over by a speeding vehicle. PTI officially claims that 12 of its supporters were killed in the protests.
Salman Ahmad also challenged Bushra Bibi’s claims about her involvement in the protest. While Bushra Bibi asserted that she was at D Chowk until midnight and was the last person there, eyewitnesses report that she was in a bulletproof SUV, far from the center of the demonstration. Salman Ahmad also questioned her claim of being shot, suggesting there was no concrete evidence, including no CCTV footage to support this.
PTI Leaders Clash Amid Ongoing Tensions
Meanwhile, the PTI leadership is embroiled in another spat during the hearing of the new Toshakhana case on Monday. According to reports, Bushra Bibi briefed Imran Khan about the failed protest, alleging that no significant mobilization occurred from Punjab. Barrister Faisal Chaudhry intervened, informing Khan that 5,000 individuals from Punjab had been arrested, and updating him about the mass arrests targeting PTI members.
In the same session, Aleema Khan raised concerns about the lack of facilities for Imran Khan, including access to newspapers and the monitoring commission set up by the Islamabad High Court. Faisal Chaudhry responded, stating that he was doing everything within his capacity and raised concerns about senior party officials not actively engaging with the court.
Mashal Yousafzai, recently removed from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, also joined the discussion, accusing Chaudhry of obstructing the commission’s work. Chaudhry, however, clarified that the commission was court-mandated and beyond his influence.
This was the second confrontation in less than ten days, as on December 5, Aleema Khan had clashed with Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Gohar over the number of deaths during the PTI protest in Islamabad. These tensions further highlight the growing divisions within PTI’s leadership.
