KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) former president Javed Hashmi on Sunday said that former ISI chief Gen Shuja Pasha was the brain behind PTI’s 126-day protest in Islamabad.

Talking on DawnNews’ show ‘Doosra Rukh,’ the disgruntled PTI leader said workers had been instructed to drag Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif out of his official residence, while Tahirul Qadri’s workers had been asked to ransack the Parliament with support from PTI.

“Gen Pasha had vowed to oust Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif and Chaudhry Nisar at all costs,” said Hashmi.

He went on to say that Imran Khan had been in regular contact with Gen Kayani and Gen Pasha during the protest movement.

“It was only after I had joined the PTI that I realized the mess I had gotten into,” said the former PTI president.

Suspended by his party in September 2014 following allegations against Imran Khan, Hashmi had announced his resignation from PTI's presidency and its membership soon afterwards. At that time Hashmi had said he could no longer continue being member of a party 'conspiring' to dismantle democracy in Pakistan.

Talking about the situation in Karachi, Hashmi said MQM will have to eliminate violent elements from among its ranks for a sustainable political future.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...