Bushra Bibi 'playing key role' in mobilising workers for PTI's protest

• Bushra Bibi holds series of meetings at KP Chief Minister's House.
• Her words and actions reflect Khan's stance: ex-first lady's spox.
• She is engaging in form of "jihad" for justice, says Mashal Yousafzai.
  

PESHAWAR: Despite the denial of Bushra Bibi's involvement in the political fray, party sources have said that the former first lady has been mobilising the rank and file of the party to ensure maximum participation of workers in the upcoming protest on November 24, The News reported on Monday.

Sources privy to the developments told the Geo News that the Chief Minister's House had become the centre of PTI's political activities as the party was making preparations for the planned protest, adding that Bushra has held a series of meetings at the CM House with the PTI leaders from Hazara, Malakand, and Balochistan.

The development is seemingly contradictory to the "categorical denial" of the ex-first lady's involvement in politics as communicated by party lawyer Faisal Chaudhry.

Quoting the incarcerated PTI founder, the lawyer maintained that the former prime minister had categorically rejected media reports claiming that his wife had formally stepped into politics.

"She [Bushra] is neither joining politics nor will she in future," said Chaudhry to journalists after meeting Khan in Adiala jail last week.

However, sources claim that Bushra was in fact mobilising the party workers to stage the protest to demand Khan's release.

It is pertinent to know that the ex-PM, as per his lawyer Chaudhry and sister Aleema Khan, has given a "final" call for protests urging party workers to march to Islamabad on November 24.

The announcement came as former ruling party, for months, has been engaged in a political tug-of-war with the ruling coalition — which it alleges came into power fraudulently — and has held protests in the federal capital on multiple occasions.

'PTI founder's high expectations from youth'

PTI leaders from Malakand Division, including Abdul Latif, KP Assembly Deputy Speaker Surayya Bibi and Saleem-ur-Rehman, participated in the discussions.

Representing the Hazara Division, Umar Ayub, Akbar Ayub, Arshad Ayub and Fazl-ul-Haq were in attendance. From Balochistan, PTI Women’' Wing president Safia Kakar, along with five other members, joined the meetings.

The sources said that Bushra was actively engaging with PTI leaders to convey messages from the party’s founder. She called for a renewed effort to secure Khan's release.

She asked the party leaders to intensify their efforts and mobilise workers across all regions for the upcoming protest. According to sources, she urged the participants to ensure the participation of PTI workers from all regions, including Balochistan, in the November 24 protest.

Meanwhile, Bushra held meetings with office-bearers of the Insaf Students Federation and other leaders to convey the party's vision and motivate the younger members. She held the meeting in an effort to intensify efforts to ensure the success of the party's planned protest.

Sources said that provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, Shahid Khattak, and Sohail Afridi also attended the meeting, where Bushra shared the PTI founder's message and underlined the vital role of youth in the party's struggle.

Speaking at the meeting, Bushra remarked that the PTI founder had high expectations from the youth. She urged the leaders to actively mobilise young members for the upcoming protest.

In addition to addressing youth leaders, Bushra also held one-on-one meetings with several party leaders. She met Gul Zafar, a party leader from Bajaur, to acknowledge his contributions to PTI.

Furthermore, the former first lady was also engaged in rallying PTI members to ensure maximum participation in the planned protest.

'Bushra's actions reflect Khan's stance'

However, Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif denied that Bushra had engaged in politics.

In a statement, he said that she had communicated the message of PTI founder to the party workers. He insisted that she was not directly participating in political activities.

Barrister Saif clarified that Bushra was a Pakistani citizen and the wife of the party founder.

"She did not attend any party meetings but merely conveyed the party founder's messages to the leadership," he asserted.

However, talking to Geo News, Mashal Yousafzai, Bushra's spokesperson, said that her role in ensure the party leadership adhered to the directives of the PTI founder.

"Bushra [Bibi] is following the instructions of the party leader in all matters. As his wife, she is also addressing the party’s concerns regarding his release," said Yousafzai.

She noted that Bushra had called for a robust protest under the guidance of the PTI founder.

"Her actions and words reflect the stance of the PTI founder. She is not engaging in politics but rather in a form of 'jihad' for justice'," she remarked.