The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing internal discord over the timeline and strategy for its planned nationwide protest movement aimed at securing the release of its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan.
The rift, primarily between the party’s central leadership and its Punjab chapter, has become increasingly visible as the proposed peak protest date of August 5 approaches. The date marks two years since Khan’s imprisonment, and different factions within the party are divided over whether to launch an immediate protest or a longer campaign to build momentum.
The central leadership, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, is pushing for a 90-day campaign culminating in decisive protests. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on July 13, Gandapur described the movement as a “do-or-die” struggle to challenge what PTI calls a “fascist regime” and secure Khan’s release. He said the campaign would mobilise supporters across districts and tehsils, peaking by August 5, after which a new phase would be announced.
However, PTI Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza Malik has taken a starkly different stance, calling for an immediate protest on August 5, in line with what she says is Imran Khan’s direct instruction, conveyed through his sister, Aleema Khan. Malik has reportedly threatened to resign if the party deviates from this date, highlighting the lack of coordination with the central leadership.
Sources said Malik has already directed the Punjab party organisation to begin preparations, mobilising workers in districts such as Okara, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Faisalabad, and Chiniot for the August 5 protest.
The internal rift became public when Malik, who was excluded from a key strategy meeting in Lahore, voiced her frustration on X. In a series of posts, she questioned the origins of the “90-day plan” and sought clarity on the movement’s objectives, insisting that the party’s sole focus must remain Khan’s release. She wrote, “The focus and target is only the release of Imran Khan.”
The meeting in Lahore, attended by Gandapur, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bhachar, did not include Malik. Raja later explained her absence as due to “other commitments,” a claim Malik dismissed sarcastically, saying she was unaware of any such engagements.
Meanwhile, Aleema Khan welcomed the gathering as a sign of unity among PTI parliamentarians but expressed surprise over Malik’s exclusion, saying, “We were told this was a meeting of parliamentarians.” She reaffirmed Imran Khan’s call for the protest movement to peak on August 5 and said his entire family, including his sons in the UK, would participate.
In an attempt to contain the fallout, Barrister Gohar urged party leaders to resolve differences internally rather than airing them publicly. “If any leader has a complaint, they should inform me directly,” he said.
However, analysts say the public nature of this rift reflects deeper issues within PTI related to decision-making and trust, raising concerns about unity at a critical time for the party.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has signalled it will not tolerate any potential unrest. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari acknowledged the constitutional right to peaceful protest but accused PTI of having a history of violence, referring to the May 9, 2023, incidents. “No political party is allowed to attack with weapons,” she warned.
