Protest Plans
Internal divisions have surfaced within the ranks of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding the structure, communication, and overall direction of its newly announced protest movement. The apparent lack of coordination and unified messaging has sparked public debate, particularly after conflicting statements from key party leaders emerged over the weekend.
The situation unfolded following a press conference held in Lahore on Sunday by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. During the briefing, Gandapur launched what he described as a 90-day nationwide movement aimed at mobilizing public support.
He emphasized that the initiative would be comprehensive and relentless, stating, “We will go all out in this movement.” Gandapur insisted that the campaign would proceed irrespective of PTI’s presence in government, promising to take the message to every part of the country.
However, this announcement did not appear to be fully coordinated within the party’s leadership structure, as evident from the reaction of PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza. In a series of posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Aliya raised serious concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the movement’s planning and objectives.
In one of her posts, she expressed confusion over the announcement, writing, “According to the information reaching me, I was very busy for the past two days and engaged in such activities that I might not have been fully informed.” Her comments suggested that she had not been consulted or properly briefed on the campaign’s details, a surprising development given her senior organizational role within the party.
Aliya went further, questioning the movement’s direction and specific goals. “What action plan has been announced for the release of Imran Khan yesterday or today?” she asked. “Where and how will the movement be run? Where did this 90-day plan come from in comparison to the August 5 announcement?”
Highlighting her primary concern, Aliya reiterated that the party’s sole focus should be on securing the release of imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan. “The focus and target is only the release of the only one — and the slogan is only one,” she asserted.
The disconnect prompted further attention when PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja clarified that he had reached out to Aliya Hamza and requested her presence at a recent parliamentary party meeting. However, she had been unavailable due to other important commitments.
These developments have exposed internal fissures within PTI at a time when unity is critical for the success of any large-scale political mobilisation. The lack of coordination among senior figures, differing narratives regarding protest strategies, and absence of a clearly articulated plan could potentially undermine the movement’s credibility and effectiveness.
As the protest campaign takes shape in the days to come, party leaders may be forced to address these internal rifts and present a more unified front if they hope to energize their support base and achieve their stated objectives.
