The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentary party raised questions regarding the absence of its central leadership during the Islamabad march for former prime minister Imran Khan’s release, leading to a wave of criticism.

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.” But the protest was called off on the third day.

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.

The party has also decided to form district-level committees and legal teams to assist arrested and missing party workers.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur attended the lengthy meeting of the PTI parliamentary committee in Peshawar. Dera Ismail Khan mayor Faisal Amin Gandapur, Leader of Opposition in Omar Ayub, the KP Assembly speaker, and various national and provincial assembly members.

Members expressed “full confidence” in Chief Minister Gandapur as reports surfaced in the media that the party was planning to replace the vocal political leader with another party leader.

The gathering included detailed discussions on the violence against PTI workers in Islamabad and the situation, with assembly members presenting their suggestions to the committee.

Sources told Aaj News that the PTI parliamentary party meeting saw members harshly criticise the central leadership, questioning their absence during the protest at D-Chowk. Members asked where the central leadership was and why they were not present during the demonstrations.

In discussions with participants, KP CM Gandapur claimed that he was the last to leave D-Chowk and emphasised that their top priority was to protect Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi. “If something had happened to her, it would have been a shame for us,” he said.

The KP chief minister added that if the PTI founder ordered it, he would be willing to resign not only from the chief ministership but also from his assembly seat.

The committee decided to continue the protests, maintaining the stance that “returning from Islamabad does not equate to a failure for the party.”

It was decided to establish district-level committees to support arrested and missing party workers, as well as to form legal teams to provide legal assistance to those detained.

Sources added that the parliamentary party meeting imposed a ban on bringing mobile phones into the meeting.

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The Islamabad protest has turned into a significant challenge for some PTI leaders, as they confronted the fury of party workers, leading some of them to hesitate in returning to their constituencies.

Internal discussions from the PTI parliamentary party meeting revealed that assembly members expressed concerns about their safety in their areas, asking, “How do we handle the anger of the workers? Gandapur, tell us what to do?”

Members highlighted that workers were questioning their whereabouts during the protests while those whose vehicles were damaged were demanding compensation. The questions from assembly members “visibly unsettled” Gandapur.