Mashal Yousafzai - the spokesperson for Bushra Bibi - was removed from her position as Special Assistant to Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat issued an official notification confirming Masha’s removal, which took effect hours after her appearance on a private TV channel.
In the interview, Yousafzai revealed key details about the internal dynamics of PTI’s leadership during the recent protests in Islamabad.
In her interview, Yousafzai stated that Bushra Bibi, contrary to some party leaders' views, had opted to go to D-Chowk instead of Sangjani, despite being advised otherwise.
She recounted that Barrister Gohar had conveyed instructions from Imran Khan to Bushra Bibi, urging her to proceed with a sit-in at Sangjani. However, Bushra, expressing a lack of trust in the party leadership, decided to go to D-Chowk, a move that raised questions among party members.
She also disclosed that Bushra’s vehicle had come under fire during the protest, a claim that contradicted official police statements which had denied the use of live ammunition.
The timing of Yousafzai’s dismissal follows intense scrutiny surrounding PTI’s handling of the Islamabad protests, aimed at securing the release of Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year.
The protest's shift towards D-Chowk, in particular, has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning the party’s strategy and the decisions of Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur.
Mashal confirming her removal said that her dismissal was a direct consequence of her statements during the interview. "I was de-notified due to my remarks about the protest and the confusion surrounding the directions given to Bushra Bibi," she said.
The protest, which was intended to be a "do-or-die" march for the PTI leadership, had already faced internal turmoil, with key leaders like Salman Akram Raja and Sahibzada Hamid Raza resigning from their party posts in the aftermath of the failed sit-in attempt.
The spox also pointed out the confusion regarding the instructions Bushra received from her husband, Imran Khan, as conveyed through various channels.
She claimed that Bushra had expressed a desire to speak directly with Imran to confirm his intentions regarding the protest strategy, further complicating the internal dynamics of the party.
In response to her claims, the Islamabad police chief had issued a statement denying the use of live ammunition during the operation, creating a discrepancy between official reports and Yousafzai’s account of events.
According to Mashal, Bushra’s vehicle had been attacked with chemicals, forcing her to switch cars, though she was separated from Bushra amidst the chaos.
