Internal divisions within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to light at Adiala Jail when key party leaders clashed over the aftermath of a protest in Islamabad and the conditions Imran Khan was facing behind bars.
The confrontation took place between PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, sister Aleema Khan, and prominent party leaders, including Faisal Chaudhry, Barrister Gohar Khan, and Mashal Yousafzai. The issue at hand was the party’s handling of the November 24 protest in Islamabad, which saw considerable tension within the ranks.
Bushra Bibi expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of support from Punjab, criticizing the region’s response to the protest and accusing them of not backing the party’s cause during this critical time. She suggested that the provincial leadership’s lack of enthusiasm was detrimental to PTI’s efforts.
On the other hand, Barrister Gohar Khan defended Punjab’s actions, highlighting the severe crackdown that followed the protest. He pointed out that over 5,000 PTI members had been arrested, significantly impacting the party’s operations in the region. This, he argued, hampered their ability to effectively mobilize support.
The discussion grew more heated when Aleema Khan questioned Faisal Chaudhry about the basic facilities that were being denied to Imran Khan in jail, particularly the lack of newspapers. Chaudhry defended the party’s position, but he redirected some blame towards senior officials, questioning why they were not personally attending court hearings.
Tensions escalated when Aleema Khan raised concerns over the Islamabad High Court’s monitoring commission. While Faisal Chaudhry clarified that the commission was court-ordered and beyond their control, Mashal Yousafzai accused Chaudhry of undermining its work, which led to a sharp verbal exchange.
Barrister Gohar Khan stepped in to calm the situation, advising that such matters should be left to the party leadership and that public discussions only served to confuse the situation.
Amid the argument, Imran Khan voiced his concerns about the rise of what he described as “fascism” in Punjab, claiming it had instilled fear among the population. He also referenced the disappearance of around 200 PTI members following the D-Chowk protest, further fueling his belief that the political atmosphere in the region was increasingly repressive.
