“The protest date can only change if Imran Khan is released from prison and outlines a course of action for the public,” said Mr. Khan’s wife in a video shared on PTI’s official X handle. She urged people not to believe rumors and to step out on November 24 to join the protest.
Read more: Imran Khan Faces New Charges After Bail in Toshakhana Case, Arrested Over PTI Protest
The statement came hours after the Islamabad High Court declared PTI’s planned protest “unlawful” and instructed the federal government to ensure law and order in the capital without disrupting public life.
Allegations of a Conspiracy
In her message, Bushra Bibi also made allegations of a foreign conspiracy to remove her husband’s government, attributing blame to external powers.
She alleged that after Mr. Khan visited Madina barefoot, then-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa began receiving calls regarding the former prime minister.
Without naming any specific country, the former first lady claimed, “When he [Imran Khan] returned, [Gen] Bajwa began receiving calls asking, ‘Who have you brought into power? We are abolishing Sharia in this country, and you have brought a proponent of Sharia. We don’t want him.’”
بشریٰ بی بی کا 24 نومبر کی عمران خان کی کال کے حوالے سے قوم کے نام عمران خان کا اہم پیغام: pic.twitter.com/ewYDWld6LP
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 21, 2024
Bushra Bibi asserted that her husband chose not to make these claims public but emphasized that Gen Bajwa and his family should be questioned about the matter. While Gen Bajwa has reportedly denied these allegations, her remarks have raised concerns within PTI ranks, with some suggesting they could harm ongoing backchannel negotiations.
She also urged police and law enforcement agencies to refrain from excessive actions against the party’s peaceful protesters. Additionally, she accused the judiciary of failing to deliver justice, stating that her husband had been held in a “cramped space” for over a year.
Calls for Peaceful Protest
PTI leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar echoed a defiant stance, stating that the party was “pitted against the establishment” and reaffirming that the protest would go ahead as planned on November 24.
“We have Plans B, C, and even D to ensure November 24 remains the party founder Imran Khan’s final call,” said Bhachar, who also serves as the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly.
During a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, Bhachar warned of a potential “re-enactment of May 9” violence if the government used force against the demonstrators. While insisting the protest in Islamabad was planned to be peaceful, he stated, “We cannot guarantee it will remain peaceful.”
Bhachar also criticized talks with the government, arguing that the ruling coalition “lacked authority” and that PTI would not negotiate with “pawns.” He further alleged that authorities were already restricting access to Lahore and other cities in anticipation of the protest.