Can PTI Impact Pakistan’s Politcs? – OpEd
Recently, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has committed himself as not just a political leader among Pakistani youth but the master of street agitation and protests causing disruption across the country. Despite being put behind bars, he still holds a significant influence over Pakistan’s political landscape through rallies, protests and disruptive politics. These mixed nuances in his leadership and political style reflect an intricate narrative of resistance, victimhood and chaos.
Transforming from a cricket star, Imran Khan’s political career sought momentum after the 2014 “dharna” (sit-in), when he held a 126-day protest against the government, in Islamabad. His party, Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI) claimed that the 2013 General Elections were rigged and the sit-in was to demand justice. The capital was transformed into a political battleground as Khan urged his supporters to chant anti-government slogans in rallies against the Nawaz Sharif-led government. These agitations by the political leader caused the protestors to use violent means when they attempted to breach the Prime Minister residence while clashing with the law enforcement agencies and throwing stones at them. These protests marked the beginning of Khan’s disruptive policies to coerce the government, which defined his political career until now.
Coming forward to 2022, Khan’s government was ousted through a vote of no-confidence pushing him to sit in the opposition. Instead of accepting the constitutional process, Khan turned to his normal tactics of holding protests and rallies using the politics of coercion. Nationwide protests were organized by PTI. He accused some foreign conspirators behind his removal from the office. His supporters closed roads and long marches were organized in different cities, deteriorating normal life. The common Pakistani who was already struggling from inflation and economic backwardness faced road closures and disruptions in business further agitating him. The tactics adopted in 2014, better served Khan in 2022 also.
On May 9, 2023, the protests reached the tipping point when Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case. His followers launched protests across the country. National institutions, military installations and public property were targeted by the protestors. The scale of the violence was so intimate that there are concerns about PTI protestors’ radicalization. Besides Khan distancing himself from all the chaos, there is evidence suggesting that the protests were well coordinated by the PTI leadership. These events truly showed what PTI is all about, besides it leadership portraying itself as a peaceful political entity.
August 5, 2023 marked another chapter in Imran Khan’s political struggle as he was arrested again. Although Khan was put behind bars, he continued to galvanize his supporters urging them to create political unrest. Although his court hearings were held in prison to avoid any public appearance so as not to lead to any disruption, he continued to meet the PTI leadership guiding them to hold protests and halt government activities. One such notable instance could be seen during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Islamabad. When on one side the government was inviting an international delegation, Khan instructed his supporters to hold protests to ensure the event was disrupted. Even the imprisonment could not prevent him from impacting Pakistan’s politics.
On one side when Khan projects himself as the savior of democracy and people’s rights, his tactics often disrupt the life of a common Pakistani. The closure of roads, leading to disrupted businesses and other chores of life had led to frustration among the population who find themselves caught in the crossfire. However, for his supporters, he remains a symbol of resistance against the corrupt establishment. His arrest has further strengthened his popularity among his supporters. He is viewed as a martyr of democracy. Khan’s ability to sustain this image from behind bars speaks to the depth of his influence on Pakistan’s politics.
As of October 2024, Imran Khan is still in prison his political manifestation looms large. His approach of keeping Pakistan in a state of fluctuation—through disruptions, marches, and protests —continues, with his devoted supporters implementing his directions. This approach has made it problematic for any government to function efficiently, as the country remains at odds between those who view Khan as an idol and those who see him as the cause of national insecurity.
Despite his imprisonment, Khan’s stimulus shows no symbols of declining. His leadership style, built on agitation, disruption, and resistance, has well-defined his political career. Whether this tactic will lead to evocative change or continual chaos remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Imran Khan’s story is far from over.
For many Pakistanis, Khan’s current story is a recap of the fine line between dissent and disturbance. While his followers believe he is struggling for their rights, the broader public must contend with the significance of his political scuffles. The question now is whether Imran Khan can evolve beyond his current tactics or if he will remain, in both spirit and strategy, the leader who thrives on chaos, even from behind bars.
