In a leaked audio clip, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Muhammad Khan expressed concerns over the alleged deviation from party founder Imran Khan’s directive regarding a planned sit-in. According to the audio, which Ali confirmed as authentic during an interview with Geo News, Imran Khan had instructed party members to stage the sit-in at Islamabad’s Sangjani area, not at D-Chowk in the Red Zone.
The leak comes after PTI abruptly called off its march, citing a government crackdown on protesters attempting to reach D-Chowk. This decision sparked criticism within the party, with parliamentary leaders questioning why the protest site was changed from Sangjani, as per Imran Khan’s original instructions.
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In the audio, Ali Muhammad Khan stated that the PTI founder’s plan was to set up a protest camp in Sangjani, with the final sit-in location to be confirmed upon reaching Islamabad. He questioned the decision to direct party workers to D-Chowk, emphasizing that this was not in line with Imran Khan’s orders. Ali named individuals such as Barrister Gohar and Faisal Chaudhry as witnesses to the initial plan.
Ali also raised concerns about the involvement of Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, questioning why she made the call to redirect the protest instead of party leaders. He reminded listeners of Imran Khan’s stance against hereditary politics within PTI and emphasized that decisions should come from the party leadership.
The audio further highlighted that the purpose of the sit-in was to facilitate negotiations under Imran Khan’s directives. Ali noted that the former prime minister was reportedly unaware of Bushra Bibi’s participation in the protest until informed by Barrister Gohar.
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Ali concluded by stressing the importance of adhering to Imran Khan’s instructions, adding that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had also agreed to the Sangjani plan. He underscored that no one, including Bushra Bibi, should have overridden the founder’s decisions.