PTI leaders to convince Imran Khan over cancelling Islamabad march: report

Following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s final call for protest, the party leaders seem hesitant to lead a march to Islamabad as several are unhappy with the announcement of the date, according to the sources. 

A day ago, Imran Khan’s counsel, Faisal Chaudhary, stated in a media talk outside Adiala Jail that the former prime minister directed workers and supporters to march to Islamabad on November 24.

According to Geo News, the plan was announced after Chaudhary met with jailed founding chairman Imran Khan, but it came as a surprise for the top brass, as they were not happy with the announcement of the date by Khan.

Sources privy to the matter stated the leadership was mulling over the options to persuade Imran Khan to call off the protest. 

“We will advise him to call off the protest, as we will move towards another effort for the fulfilment of demands,” said a party leader with anonymous condition.

PTI sources refused to share the names of the leaders who are unhappy with the decision of the founder as they believed if the names were disclosed they would be targeted on social media and these leaders are not ordinary, so their identity could be revealed.

Sources added that Imran Khan needs better advice as the party believes the arrangements of sit-ins for hundreds of thousands of people on D-chowk, including washroom facilities and food provision is not an easy task. 

On the fears of Bushra Bibi’s arrest, it expressed concerns that such a “protest will not only risk of her re-arrest but it would also prolong Khan's stay in jail.” 

As per sources, political challenges for PTI are subsiding gradually, “as Khan has gotten relief in several cases from the court, even if he is convicted in 190m pound case, he would get relief from the high court within a few months.”

Earlier, incarcerated Imran Khan shared a message from the Adiala Jail, urging party followers to attend the upcoming jalsa in Islamabad. Imran Khan framed the event as a “test” for the nation in what he called a final attempt to reverse an “undeclared martial law.”