PTI Must Decide Whether It Wants a Revolution or Political Space, Says Fawad Chaudhry
LAHORE: Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political strategy and parliamentary decisions, saying the party must decide whether it wants to bring about a revolution in the country or secure political space by remaining part of parliament.
Speaking during a recent podcast, Fawad said the two objectives required entirely different strategies, but PTI’s leadership appeared unable to settle on a clear course of action.
He criticised what he described as a contradiction in the party’s approach, saying its leaders spent two weeks making strong revolutionary statements before switching to negotiations for the next four weeks.
“This leadership follows a formula of two weeks of revolution and four weeks of negotiations. It is difficult to understand what they actually want,” he said.
Fawad argued that if PTI genuinely wanted to bring about a revolution, there was little justification for remaining in parliament or continuing what he described as committee-based politics. In that case, he said, the leadership would have to mobilise the public on the streets, even if it meant facing arrests and imprisonment.
He maintained that PTI had wasted crucial opportunities when it should have taken to the streets and mobilised its supporters.
تحریک انصاف سے فیصلہ نہیں ہو پا رہا کہ وہ انقلاب لانا چاھتے ہیں یا سیاسی جگہ لینی مقصد ہے؟ دونوں کیلئے حکمت عملی مختلف ہے لیکن یہ قیادت دو ھفتے انقلاب اور چار ھفتے مذاکرات کا فارمولا اپناتی ہے، پتہ نہیں چل رہا کہ چاھتے کیا ہیں !! https://t.co/tgEdN6OEG4
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 26, 2026
However, he said that if the party had decided to remain in parliament and secure political space within the existing system, it should adhere to that decision and pursue its objectives through consistent political engagement.
Criticising PTI’s parliamentary conduct, the former minister pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in its dealings with the government.
He said the party referred to the prime minister’s government as a “Form 47 government” but, at the same time, willingly accepted the notification and position of the opposition leader in the National Assembly under the same system.
Fawad argued that the party could not selectively accept or reject the parliamentary system according to its convenience. If PTI intended to remain part of parliament, he said, it should pursue serious negotiations rather than maintain contradictory positions.
The former minister also claimed that PTI’s parliamentary and political leadership had changed its statements at least 48 times over the preceding 24 hours, further highlighting what he described as confusion within the party.
He additionally criticised the leadership of PTI and the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan, alleging that they had failed to mount an effective protest over a reported 30-day extension in the detention of members of Imran Khan’s family.
Fawad said politics should not revolve solely around holding positions and retaining offices. He argued that appointing inexperienced and allegedly incompetent individuals to key positions had come at a heavy cost for Imran Khan and the party.
He further alleged that self-serving elements had seriously damaged PTI’s political narrative and urged the party to reassess its strategy and clearly define its future course of action.
His remarks come amid continuing debate over PTI’s parliamentary role, its approach to negotiations with the government and the direction of its political movement.
