Campaign
LAHORE/KARACHI: Days ahead of the February 8 elections in Pakistan, Komal Asghar, adorned in a mask and headscarf, leads a covert campaign team in Lahore. Their mission: discreetly distribute pamphlets featuring images of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Asghar, a 25-year-old insurance company employee, sacrificed her job for a month to canvass for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The PTI adopts a dual campaign strategy, blending secretive canvassing, often led by female teacher volunteers, with generative AI technology. The party employs AI to create footage of Khan delivering speeches from his prison cell, encouraging supporters to participate on election day. Online rallies on social media, reaching several hundred thousand viewers, are part of PTI’s digital approach.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan, barred from political office last year, faces legal challenges with recent sentences, including a 14-year term for illegal sale of state gifts. PTI’s strategic use of technology and Khan’s popularity have kept the party in the spotlight.
While PTI’s digital efforts are significant, restrictions may limit its competition against rivals like the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Sharif’s recent return from exile and overturned corruption convictions add complexity to the political landscape.
Despite challenges, PTI maintains strong support, especially among the youth, as it navigates a predominantly digital campaign. Generative AI shapes online rallies, emphasizing Khan’s continued influence within the party. The outcome of the elections, coupled with Khan’s legal battles, will determine PTI’s political trajectory and influence on Pakistan’s future.
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