PTI faces internal rift over protest plans

The PTI is grappling with internal divisions over the timeline and strategy for a nationwide protest aimed at securing the release of its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan.

The discord, primarily between the party's central leadership and its Punjab chapter, has escalated as the proposed date of August 5 for peak protest approaches, marking two years since Khan's imprisonment.

The central leadership - including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur - has advocated for a 90-day campaign culminating in a decisive protest, emphasising a strategic build-up to maximise impact.

Gandapur, speaking at a press conference in Lahore on July 13, described the movement as a "do-or-die" effort to challenge what PTI calls a "fascist regime", and to secure Khan's release. He stressed that the campaign would involve mobilising supporters in every district and tehsil, peaking by August 5, after which a new phase would be announced.

In contrast, PTI Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza Malik has firmly backed an immediate protest on August 5, aligning with a call attributed to Imran Khan via his sister, Aleema Khan. Malik has reportedly threatened to resign if the party deviates from this date, highlighting a lack of coordination with the central leadership.

Sources indicate that Malik has already directed the party's Punjab organisation to prepare for the August 5 protest, mobilising workers in districts such as Okara, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Faisalabad, and Chiniot.

The rift became public when Malik, 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, stating, "The focus and target is only the release of Imran Khan."

Her absence from the meeting - which included Gandapur, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bhachar - was dismissed by Raja as "because of her other commitments", a claim Malik refuted sarcastically, noting she was unaware of her supposed business.

However, Aleema Khan, speaking to the media, welcomed the Lahore gathering as a sign of unity among PTI parliamentarians but expressed ignorance about Malik's exclusion, stating, "We were told this was a meeting of parliamentarians."

She reaffirmed Imran Khan's call for the protests to peaking on August 5, noting that his entire family, including his UK-based sons, would participate.

Barrister Gohar has attempted to quell the discord, urging leaders to address concerns through internal party channels rather than at the public forums. "If any leader has a complaint, they should inform me directly," he said. Yet, this public spat has raised concerns about cohesion among the PTI ranks at a critical juncture, with some analysts suggesting it reflects deeper issues of centralisation and trust within the party.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has signalled a firm stance against potential unrest.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari acknowledged the right to peaceful protest but accused the PTI of having a history of violence – a reference to May 9, 2023, incidents. "No political party is allowed to attack with weapons," Bukhari said.