The internal story of the PTI Core Committee meeting at the Chief Minister’s House came to light on Thursday, revealing rising tensions among party members.

Sourced within the party told Aaj News that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur expressed his anger over former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi’s support for ex-president Arif Alvi while party leader Shaukat Yousafzai also spoke out against her, leading to heated exchanges during the meeting.

The core committee met a day after the party called off its Islamabad march for the third time. The meeting lasted for more than five years.

The discussion was focused on the political situation, with decisions being made regarding the families of the people killed and injured in the protests.

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Salman Akram Raja, Faisal Javed, Sheikh Waqas, and Meena Khan are present.

Thousands of PTI supporters marched on November 24 from different cities to Islamabad for Khan’s “final call” to “ensure the release of party members and restoration of democracy.”

They managed to reach the federal capital despite roadblocks and disruptions to the internet and cellular services.

At least six people, including a police officer and three Rangers officials, lost their lives during three days of protests, as reported by officials and hospital sources.

It was the third time that time that the party called off its protest after reaching its desired destination. According to reports, the party’s top leadership had expressed concerns over the lack of participation from supporters in Punjab during the meetings for the Islamabad march.

Late on the third day, PTI leaders, including Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, urged protesters to “go home, have dinner, and return tomorrow.” This retreat from the protest site marked a significant shift in strategy for the party.

In addition to the fatalities in the wee hours of Wednesday, there were widespread arrests as security forces worked to clear protesters from Jinnah Avenue and the Blue Area. However, the exact number of those detained remains unclear.

To maintain order, police switched off street lights along Jinnah Avenue and in surrounding sectors, deploying a heavy presence on both sides of the road. As law enforcement regained control, many dispersed protesters moved towards Faisal Avenue and nearby areas, where authorities had placed containers to block access, which had previously been cleared by demonstrators.

Sources added that Gandapur had a “bitter” confrontation with Bushra Bibi, stating, “We are soldiers of the PTI founder, not of anyone else.” Committee members criticised the leadership.

Bibi reportedly defended Alvi, which further irritated Gandapur. Tensions escalated when Yousafzai made statements regarding Khan’s wife, prompting a heated response from her.

Mushtaq Ghani came to Yousafzai’s defense while Bibi expressed her displeasure regarding his comments. Members also questioned the leadership on why a decision had not been made about who would lead the party moving forward.