Former first lady Bushra Bibi Monday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest march will continue till her husband and party founder Imran Khan is released.
“I will stand till my last breath and so you should stand with me too,” Bushra Bibi said in an address to party workers at the Hazara Interchange as her convoy makes its way to the federal capital for a “decisive” protest.
“Even if someone does not stand by with me, I will stand [alone],” she said, adding that it was not only about her husband’s release but also for the country.
She said that Pashtun were honourable people who would not abandon their “companions until the very end”.
Scores of PTI workers, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi among others, have been marching on the federal capital on Khan’s call for a “do-or-die” protest.
At the time of filing of this report, the main PTI convoy had reportedly reached Kati Pahari after passing Burhan interchange where police fired tear gas shells at them. The government has said it is determined to keep demonstrators out of the federal capital and quash the protest come what may, however, PTI workers and leaders are continuing to head to Islamabad, overcoming all obstacles for the second-consecutive day.
Earlier in the day, caravans led by senior leadership of the PTI from all across the country on Sunday started their march on the capital. They, however, failed to reach their “destination” – D-Chowk in Islamabad – after meeting heavy resistance by law enforcement who resorted to the use of tear gas shells and non-lethal rounds.
On Monday, the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and former first lady Bushra Bibi resumed its march on the federal capital, overcoming obstacles set up by the government from the Punjab-KP border near Attock till Islamabad.
PTI leadership made it clear that they were in “no hurry” for their “do-or-die” protest as party workers and supporters across the country tried to evade arrest and police action.
“Our destination is Islamabad, but we can take a day or two to reach there and let the government machinery remain panicked,” revealed senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser.
Reports said that a majority of protesters marching towards the federal capital belonged to KP, while the leadership had failed to mobilise workers in Punjab and Islamabad due to police crackdown in the days leading to the protest. They also quoted sources within the party as saying that the people of Punjab and Islamabad were waiting for the “main convoy” to reach the capital for support.
Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Omar Ayub and Arif Alvi have also been booked under terror charges over the protests.
