Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Imran Khan, the founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had initially agreed to a proposal to change the location of the party’s protest, but his wife, Bushra Bibi, refused to accept the suggestion. Speaking in Sialkot, Asif described how PTI’s call for a sit-in protest on November 24 led to violent confrontations, with party workers crossing barricades and heading to Islamabad, resulting in casualties among security personnel.
Asif praised the efforts of the security forces in thwarting what he called the “third attack on the federal government” by PTI, and criticized the PTI leadership for fleeing when confronted with resistance, accusing them of a lack of resolve. He suggested that while Imran Khan had agreed to the change of location, Bushra Bibi insisted on continuing to D-Chowk, leading to the chaos.
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Asif also commented on the discrepancies in PTI’s reports regarding the number of deaths during the protests. He pointed out that despite PTI leaders like Sardar Latif Khisa claiming 278 fatalities, the actual death toll had been revised down to single digits. Asif questioned the lack of concrete evidence to support PTI’s claims, emphasizing that no videos or statements from the families of the deceased had been presented.
Additionally, Asif welcomed the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, viewing it as a positive development for the national carrier. He noted that this would not only enhance PIA’s presence in the European market but also assist in the airline’s privatization process.
