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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai has raised the possibility of the party launching a civil disobedience movement if serious negotiations with the government are not initiated.
In a statement, Yousafzai warned that PTI would announce a civil disobedience campaign beginning December 14 unless the government engages in meaningful talks. He stressed that the party has developed a strategy for protests and negotiations, with protests continuing until fruitful discussions take place.
However, despite Yousafzai’s warning, sources within PTI indicate that the decision to announce civil disobedience is not yet finalized. PTI leader Asad Qaiser revealed that he is in discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, with plans to launch a joint movement against the government. Qaiser also mentioned the extension of the “Martyrs’ Day” program, now set for December 13 to December 15, during which PTI will present detailed information about the martyrs and those injured during protests.
The situation surrounding PTI’s civil disobedience strategy is complicated by conflicting statements regarding the martyrdom of party workers. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Opposition Leader Ayub Khan have confirmed the deaths of 12 party workers, while internal sources indicate that the majority of PTI leaders are hesitant to immediately launch a civil disobedience movement.
According to sources within the party, PTI’s core committee has been discussing the matter, and many believe that launching the movement in December would be premature. The committee members argue that the party should first finalize its strategy on the issue, suggesting that it may be more prudent to delay the call for civil disobedience. The party leadership, they say, wants to recover from the aftermath of the November 24 protest before making such a significant move. Further consultations with PTI founder Imran Khan are expected to take place after the meeting with party leadership.
In a recent development, Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, revealed that her brother had instructed that if talks with the establishment fail, PTI would launch a civil disobedience movement. This statement has added to the uncertainty surrounding PTI’s future course of action, as party leaders have expressed concerns about the feasibility of the plan. Several PTI leaders have voiced their reservations on internal WhatsApp groups, questioning the practicality and timing of such a movement.
Sources within PTI have indicated that senior party members, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja, Ali Amin Gandapur, and Asad Qaiser, were taken by surprise when they learned of Imran Khan’s civil disobedience call through his social media post on X (formerly Twitter). Concerns have been raised over the potential repercussions of such a move, especially with overseas Pakistanis being unlikely to halt financial support, and PTI leaders possibly facing disqualification from Parliament if they participate in civil disobedience.
As the party continues to deliberate, the question remains whether PTI will officially announce its civil disobedience movement at the Peshawar rally or delay it in favor of further internal consultations.
