Lahore, July 15, 2025: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing internal discord over its strategy for a nationwide protest scheduled for August 5, intended to press for the release of jailed party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Tensions have surfaced between the party’s central leadership and its Punjab chapter, particularly over the timeline and direction of the campaign. The central leadership, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, supports a 90-day campaign culminating on August 5, calling it a strategic “do-or-die” movement. Gandapur said the plan aims to mobilize support district by district, reaching its peak on the symbolic date marking two years since Khan’s imprisonment.
However, PTI Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik has rejected the phased approach, insisting on an immediate protest on August 5 in line with Imran Khan’s reported instructions conveyed through his sister, Aleema Khan. Malik has reportedly warned she may resign if the party deviates from the fixed date and has already directed mobilization efforts in several Punjab districts, including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, and Pakpattan.
The internal rift became public when Malik, who was excluded from a key strategy meeting in Lahore, aired her grievances on X. She questioned the rationale behind the 90-day strategy, reiterating that the sole focus should be Khan’s release. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja dismissed her absence as due to other engagements, a claim Malik sarcastically contradicted online.
Aleema Khan, while expressing support for the Lahore meeting as a sign of party unity, said she was unaware of Malik’s exclusion. She reaffirmed that Khan’s family, including his sons in the UK, would participate in the August 5 protest.
Amid growing public exchanges, Barrister Gohar has urged party leaders to address disagreements internally. “If any leader has a complaint, they should approach me. I will take it to Imran Khan,” he said.
The feud comes as the PTI faces mounting external pressure. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s government has signaled zero tolerance for unrest. Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari acknowledged the right to peaceful protest but warned against violence, citing the May 9, 2023, events as precedent.
The party is also contending with the fallout of its November 2024 “Final Call” protest, which left six dead, including four security personnel, and saw nearly 1,000 arrests. Amnesty International has called for an impartial investigation into the use of lethal force during those protests.
As the August 5 deadline nears, PTI’s ability to reconcile internal divisions and navigate tightening government scrutiny will be critical to the success of its campaign. Analysts warn that continued infighting may erode party momentum at a time when unity is essential.
