In light of concerns over a potential audio leak involving PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, the party imposed a ban on mobile phones during meetings, sources said on Monday. Despite that, an audio of her has surfaced online.
Khan has urged his followers to march towards Islamabad on November 24 for the “restoration” of democracy and the judiciary. Ruling coalition leaders have slammed the PTI for causing unrest in the country with such protests.
In reaction, the PTI founder set four demands for ending the protest. They are related to the recent steps taken by the government like the 26th Constitutional Amendment. According to former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, Khan’s demands “are not wrong.”
Special arrangements were made for the former first lady during meetings to prevent any leaks. The ban on mobile devices was strictly enforced, with phones confiscated from members and officials in previous meetings.
Bibi’s audio leak was the “primary reason” behind the mobile phone ban in such gatherings, they added.
In the audio, she can be heard saying, “I bring the message of the PTI founder. No one should say tomorrow that they didn’t receive it; everyone has been informed.”
Khan’s wife further urged that each MPA should bring a “convoy of 5,000 people and each MNA 10,000,” declaring, “No one should say they were arrested; the process of arrests will begin now, and you must strategize to avoid capture.”
She added that all officials should prepare alternatives in case of arrests, saying: “If someone gets arrested, then the convoy will be led by an alternative leader. We don’t want to hear excuses later about arrests or shelling. All officials should take pictures and videos inside their vehicles and share them with us.”
Moreover, Bibi has urged party leaders to deliver videos to both domestic and international media as soon as they are available online. She warned that those who fail to provide evidence would not receive tickets in the future.
“This is not just a struggle for the PTI founder but for the freedom of the country,” she said and insisted on the importance of keeping international media engaged. “November 24 will test your loyalty to the founder and the nation. We are a proud and resilient nation; those who are true and honourable will stand with the founder.”
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The former first lady cautioned that any internal disputes affecting the protest would lead to “severe” consequences. “Whenever there is division, figures like Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq begin to rear their heads,” she added, highlighting the need for unity within the party as tensions rise.
Bibi stressed that it is the third term of the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with leadership having shifted from Pervez Khattak to Mahmood Khan and now to Ali Amin Gandapur. While the positions of chief minister and ministers may change, she said that internal disputes should be avoided.
“Everyone will not always hold political office; positions and chairs are transient,” she said and called for unity within the party despite the changes in leadership.
