PTI has formed a fact-finding committee to find out why its long march to Islamabad failed. The decision was taken on Sunday at a joint meeting of the party’s core and political committees, after members argued over who was to blame.
What Was Decided
According to Express Tribune, several people at the meeting blamed suspended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for problems in how the march was organised. Most speakers pointed to weak preparation, poor teamwork, and a lack of talks with party leaders and members of the provincial assembly. PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja reportedly said fewer people joined the march in Charsadda and Mardan than expected.
Raja later defended Afridi. He described him as a brave young leader who is loyal to Imran Khan’s ideas. The reports I found did not say who will sit on the new committee or how long it has to report.
What Went Wrong
Some members said the march had turned into a loose street protest instead of a planned long march. They said it had no clear stopping points, no proper arrangements for food and transport, and no strategy.
The reports also say the party argued about two other things:
- Who knew the plan: One leader reportedly said Afridi did not tell the party leaders about the march plan. A party leader told Dawn that the date was announced without asking others, and that the plans were kept secret even from some leaders.
- The talks with the government: Most people at the meeting reportedly blamed opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the failure of the talks, although some disagreed.
Other members warned against putting all the blame on one person. These details come from unnamed sources, so they are not confirmed. PTI leaders have also publicly denied that there is a split in the party.
How We Got Here
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Sept 27 | The original date PTI gave for its march on Islamabad |
| Early October | PTI and the government held a long round of talks, and the march was pushed to October 4 |
| Oct 4 | The march started, led by Afridi, and stayed inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Oct 11 | The federal government declared an emergency and governor’s rule in the province. PTI said Afridi and its provincial president, Junaid Akbar, were arrested. Police raided Swabi, where PTI had planned a rally, and the march fell apart |
| Oct 12 | Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry told Reuters that Afridi and some of his cabinet members were in preventive custody |
| Oct 17 | The core committee met from about 10pm to 2am, and the meeting reportedly became heated |
| Oct 18 | The fact-finding committee was formed |
The Government’s Side
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government had no other choice but to impose the emergency, because it feared bloodshed and a breakdown of law and order. He said talks lasted about 48 hours and a full agreement had been prepared. He claimed PTI was expected to call off the march, but the talks fell apart after PTI spoke with Afridi. These are the prime minister’s claims. PTI has said the arrests cannot be separated from the emergency and governor’s rule, and that it may challenge the emergency in court.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- Who is on the new committee and when it must give its findings
- What PTI plans to do next. A second core committee meeting was called to discuss the party’s next steps
- Whether PTI will hold another protest. Reportedly, most members at the meeting felt it was not possible in the current situation
Final Thoughts
A fact-finding committee shows that PTI wants answers about what went wrong. But with the party’s top leaders blaming each other, a chief minister in custody, and the future of the movement unclear, the biggest test for PTI now may be keeping its own team together.
