The aftermath of a massive protest led by Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, was marked by eerie silence and uncertainty. A charred lorry, scattered tear gas shells, and posters bearing Khan’s image were all that remained of the protest that had brought the nation’s capital to a standstill. Just a day prior, the scene was vastly different, with thousands of Khan’s ardent supporters flooding the streets, waving flags, and chanting slogans under Bibi’s leadership.

Draped in a white shawl and veil, Bushra Bibi stood atop a shipping container on the outskirts of the city, addressing the crowd with fervor. Her voice, steady and resolute, cut through the noise as she rallied her husband’s supporters. “My children and my brothers! You have to stand with me,” she urged, her tone both commanding and emotional. “But even if you don’t, I will still stand firm. This is not just about my husband. It is about this country and its leader,” she declared, making what many observers noted as her political debut.

However, by the next morning, the scene had transformed entirely. The bustling crowd of protesters that had marched into the heart of the capital had vanished. D Chowk, once filled with chants and energy, was now shrouded in silence. Bushra Bibi herself was nowhere to be found, leaving both her supporters and political analysts puzzled.

Eyewitnesses described a dramatic turn of events. According to Samia*, who was present during the march, the entire square was suddenly plunged into darkness. The power outage seemed calculated, and in the pitch-black chaos that followed, the crowd dispersed as swiftly as it had gathered. “The lights just went out, and everything changed in an instant,” Samia recounted.

What transpired during those critical hours remains a mystery. Speculation ranges from fears of a government crackdown to internal divisions within the movement. For now, the disappearance of Bushra Bibi and her supporters leaves more questions than answers about the fate of their so-called “final march” and the future of their cause.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from Reuters.