A charred lorry, empty tear gas shells and posters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan - it was all that remained of a massive protest led by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, that had sent the entire capital into lockdown.

During the ‘altercation’, Ali Amin Gandapur told Bushra Bibi, “We are the soldiers of none other than Imran Khan,” according to PTI sources. It is reported by the sources that the members of the party core committee criticised the central leadership for its ‘failure’ to lead the rally in Islamabad.

The intervention of Bushra Bibi, the former first lady, disrupted negotiations to redirect PTI's protest from Islamabad's D-Chowk. As talks faltered, accusations of inciting violence and undermining leadership emerged,