On February 8, 2024, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) entered the electoral arena without its iconic 'bat' symbol. As a result of these elections, the party secured a record third consecutive government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while emerging as the largest opposition party in the National Assembly. However, PTI has consistently alleged that its mandate was "stolen" through massive rigging in the general elections. Over the past year, not only has the party’s imprisoned leader, Imran Khan, been sentenced in multiple cases, but its leaders and workers have also faced continuous crackdowns. On November 26, 2024, PTI staged a massive protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad. The party claims that several workers lost their lives due to a government-led crackdown. However, the government denies these allegations, asserting that no bullets were fired and no casualties occurred. During this period, PTI intensified its demand for a judicial commission while also engaging in negotiations with the government. However, these talks failed to yield any substantial results. On February 8, marking one year since the general elections, PTI observed a ‘Black Day’ and held a public gathering in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During the gathering, party workers and some leaders once again called for a march towards D-Chowk in Islamabad, chanting slogans to support the demand. In this report, we will analyze what PTI has gained and lost over the past year since the elections. To understand this, we spoke with political analysts and journalists. But first, let's take a look at what PTI’s leadership itself thinks at this moment.
Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, stated in an interview, “Over the past year, many have claimed that internal conflicts within PTI have intensified, but the reality is quite the opposite. There are no such differences within the party; rather, the people are now holding their representatives accountable and demanding answers for their votes.” She said that when it comes to what PTI has achieved over the past year, the simple answer is that Pakistan is going through an evolutionary process, and people have now found their voice—something that was Imran Khan’s dream. According to Aleema Khan, “Imran Khan’s dream was for people to stand up against oppression, and now they no longer endure injustice silently; they raise their voices for their rights and democracy.” Speaking at the Swabi rally on Sunday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said, “If we decide to take revenge, our opponents will not be able to bear it. But increasing hatred will only harm Pakistan. We want the rule of law and the supremacy of the constitution. We demand that the rulers stop spreading hatred because it is damaging the country. The gap between the army and the people is being widened by this mandate-stealing government.” During his speech, he further stated, “If the weapons bought with our taxes are used against us, then we also have weapons.” The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister also sent a message to the Army Chief, saying, “There is terrorism in my province, and no army can win this war against terrorism without the people's support. I urge them to stop supporting this mandate-stealing government and instead work for the country and its people.”
Speaking at the same rally, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated, “Imran Khan has already said that he is willing to engage in negotiations for the sake of the country. Pakistan stands at a difficult crossroads, and a solution must be found.” Barrister Gohar further said, “They have filed as many cases as they possibly could. Those behind these cases have tried every tactic, yet they have failed to erase Imran Khan’s love from the hearts of the people. Pakistan’s politics cannot function without Imran Khan.” The PTI Chairman added, “Imran Khan has said that we fully acknowledge the sacrifices of the army, but the gap between the military and the people should not widen. Today, people across the country are protesting they are patriots, and their voices must be heard.” Addressing the public gathering in Swabi, PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar stated, “We do not want a confrontation with institutions because these institutions are ours. However, the next time Imran Khan calls upon us, we will show up in even greater numbers—and this time, we will come prepared for bullets.” He further added, “We want to make it clear that the gap between institutions and the people is widening. We consider these institutions our own, but the growing distance between you and the public is dangerous not only for the country but for you as well.”
Professor Dr. Muhammad Waseem from LUMS University, who closely observes Pakistani politics, stated that Pakistan has a history of controversial elections. However, after the February 8, 2024, general elections, the institutions failed to effectively manage the situation arising from allegations of rigging and PTI’s subsequent reaction. He stated that in the past, both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari were imprisoned in multiple cases, but they were unable to mobilize the public in the same way Imran Khan has. However, he also pointed out that despite this street mobilization, PTI has seemingly failed to achieve the results it aimed for over the past year. According to him, “Neither has Imran Khan been released as a result of these protests and efforts, nor has there been any significant change in the status quo.” When asked about achieving results and Imran Khan’s release, Aleema Khan claimed, “Imran Khan was offered a release deal, but he rejected it because the process of his release was being carried out in a way that would create an impression of a political deal. For this reason, Imran Khan outright refused to accept such a release.” According to senior journalist and analyst Suhail Warraich, even a year after the general elections, PTI remains almost in the same position as it was on February 8, 2024. However, he acknowledges that PTI is still a "popular party." Suhail Warraich stated, "Despite this, the party's grip on its voters is not as strong, and now voters do not come out on the streets merely at Imran Khan or PTI's call. However, they still see Imran Khan as a political victim."
Disagreeing with Suhail Warraich’s perspective, Anjum Ibrahim, editor of the English newspaper Business Recorder, stated, "Imran Khan is just as strong as he was before, and over the past year, PTI has effectively maintained its connection with the public." According to her, despite various efforts, Imran Khan and his party still hold significant control over social media, which has not been diminished even with restrictions on X (formerly Twitter) and the internet. In Anjum Ibrahim’s opinion, "The cases filed against Imran Khan are very different from the serious corruption charges faced by previous rulers. These cases focus more on ethical aspects rather than financial corruption. The key point is that people do not perceive these cases as corruption scandals, as they do not involve billion-dollar deals." She further stated, "Imran Khan is in jail—he cannot show his face, nor can people mention his name—yet he remains the top headline in every news bulletin." She also added, "It is a testament to PTI’s resilience that Imran Khan has spent more than a year and a half in prison and still does not seem willing to make a deal." Sarwar Bari, head of the independent election-monitoring organization PATTAN, highlighted the key difference this time, stating, "In the past, leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto would protest against election rigging, but after some time, they would strike a deal and go silent. However, this time, even after a significant period has passed, no such deal appears to be in sight." According to him, "For the first time since 1971, a party that was sidelined in elections has fought back with such resistance. However, PTI’s narrative leading up to May 9 did not gain much public support." In his view, "One of PTI and Imran Khan’s biggest successes is that, for the first time, Pakistan’s military elite is facing a major challenge from within the country."
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