Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan had agreed to a suggestion to change the location of the protest, but his wife, Bushra Bibi, did not accept the proposal.
Speaking to the media in Sialkot, Asif recalled that on November 24, PTI called for a sit-in protest, with party workers crossing barricades and making their way to Islamabad.
As a result, Rangers and police personnel were martyred, and hundreds were injured.
He praised the security forces for successfully preventing what he described as the third attack on the federal government.
Asif criticised PTI’s leadership, stating that when confronted with genuine resistance, the party fled the scene, Express News reported.
He compared their retreat to a lack of resolve, saying such behavior was unprecedented in any war or movement.
According to Asif, the government had offered PTI several alternative protest locations, and while Imran Khan had agreed to the proposal, Bushra Bibi insisted on going to D-Chowk, which led to the chaotic situation.
He remarked that while PTI’s crowd size ‘was good, just like any one familiar with politics would muster, but ‘Bushra Bibi, unfamiliar with such a massive gathering, reportedly expressed concern, saying, “Who will go there now?” and insisted on continuing the march towards D-Chowk.
“What happened later, she fled from the scene, escaping with Gandapur.”
Asif also recalled Khyber-Pakhtunkha Ali Amin Gandapur’s vehicle was alo hit by bricks as they fled from the scene. He mentioned that the leaders only managed to escape with great difficulty, before resurfacing to Mansehra.
Addressing the deaths reported during the protests, Asif said that while PTI leaders had provided conflicting reports about the number of fatalities, with Sardar Latif Khisa reporting 278 deaths, the actual figures had been revised down to single digits.
He criticised the lack of evidence to support claims of mass killings, stating that no videos of funerals or statements from the families of the deceased had emerged, nor had there been any concrete proof of widespread bloodshed.
While injuries were reported, Asif maintained that no one had been able to verify the number of fatalities.
In addition, Asif welcomed the resumption of PIA’s European flights, calling it a positive step that would help the national carrier capture a larger share of the European market.
He added that the decision to restore European routes would also benefit PIA’s privatization process by increasing its market presence.
