Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, reiterated her call for the release of the PTI leader during a brief address to rally participants as the convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa entered the limits of Islamabad on Monday.
Addressing supporters near the Hazara Interchange, she said, "My brothers, as long as Imran is not with us, we will not end this march. I will stay here until my last breath, and I need all of you to support me. This is not just about my husband; it's about our country and its leader."
Bushra Bibi is traveling with the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amin Ali Gandapur. PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai confirmed to Dawn.com that the convoy entered Islamabad via the Sangjani toll plaza, with footage of the procession shared by the party showing its arrival in the capital.
Multiple PTI convoys are converging on Islamabad, according to PTI leader Muhammad Basharat Raja. Earlier, Bushra Bibi had posted a video calling on those still in other areas to join the march, emphasizing the high morale of the protesters. “Those who consider Islamabad their fiefdom and block it for the citizens of Pakistan should take notice!” the party warned.
Meanwhile, as PTI MNA Zartaj Gul Wazir’s convoy from South Punjab neared Islamabad, she claimed all of Imran Khan's demands were justified. She called for the release of all innocent prisoners, including their leader, and mentioned that thousands were part of the South Punjab convoy, which also included PTI South Punjab President Aon Abbas Buppi. Some convoys had already reached Islamabad, while others were still en route.
"Our ultimate goal is to reach Islamabad, where our leader will be exonerated,” Wazir stated. Buppi also confirmed his convoy's arrival near Islamabad, reassuring supporters that the time to act was near.
PTI leader Sanam Javaid Khan shared an update from her convoy, mentioning they had reached Hassanabdal, and listed the party leaders traveling with her, including Bushra Bibi, Gandapur, and others.
PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai reported that although the convoys had departed for Islamabad, their progress was slow due to their large size and police barriers. However, he claimed the police had retreated upon seeing the scale of the rally. He reiterated that Gandapur's convoy aimed to reach D-Chowk "peacefully, but at any cost."
Yousafzai added that PTI workers from several regions, including Shangla, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, and Swabi, were converging on the motorway near the Burhan Interchange. He also alleged that party workers had been targeted by police shelling. The protest would continue, Yousafzai said, until "innocent political prisoners," including Imran Khan, were released.
The PTI also criticized the government, accusing it of incompetence and seeking to "crush PTI" with roadblocks and violence. "We are slowly moving towards our destination, and God willing, the truth shall win," Yousafzai declared.
In a statement shared on X, Barrister Gohar responded to a question about the protest, emphasizing that this was Imran Khan's "final call" and that the march would not be called off.
Meanwhile, sources reported that all roads leading to Islamabad's Red Zone, except for Margalla Road, were blocked by security forces.
In response, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari questioned the effectiveness of PTI's protest. Speaking to the media in Lahore, she pointed out the ongoing violence in Kurram and criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's CM for focusing on Islamabad instead of addressing the crisis in his province. She also noted that approximately 80 people had been arrested during the protest in Punjab on Sunday, and she expressed doubt that the rally would result in any substantial change, calling it a potential "disappointment."