PTI Struggles in Current Political Landscape Amid Legal Challenges and Uncertainty*By Hamid Mir

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seems to be struggling in the current political scenario, with no significant breakthroughs in its actions. The party’s founder and chairman, Imran Khan, has been imprisoned for over two years. Despite his unwavering resolve in jail, which even earned admiration from his critics, the party has failed to launch any significant movement for his release. In a recent column, renowned journalist Hamid Mir highlighted the current state of PTI.
Mir noted that PTI recently announced a new movement for Imran Khan’s release, with a climax scheduled for August 5. This date marks the anniversary of the Indian government’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status in 2019. At that time, Imran Khan, who was Prime Minister, led protests every Friday outside Parliament House in Islamabad. However, this protest eventually lost momentum, and by February 2021, the Imran Khan government signed a ceasefire agreement with India along the Line of Control.
Now, as PTI’s leaders plan a climax for their August 5 protests, Mir expressed concerns that this might follow a similar trajectory to the earlier Kashmir protests—one that began with fervor but eventually fizzled out into a quiet ceasefire agreement. Even from behind bars, Imran Khan is trying to steer his party, with responsibility for this new movement delegated to Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is attempting to unite various parties under the banner of the “Constitutional Protection Movement.”
Mir further revealed that PTI has reportedly changed its strategy, deciding to hold protests not in Islamabad but in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where public anger and discontent are at their peak. He warned that the issues the province is facing are largely ignored by the national media.
The column also touched on the recent surge in legal actions against PTI leaders. Just as the party announced its protests for August 5, courts began sentencing PTI lawmakers, while the Election Commission of Pakistan swiftly announced their disqualifications. Mir questioned why this sudden surge of legal actions is happening if PTI is truly weakening. He speculated that the fear of a potential mass uprising is driving these actions to prevent any leaders from mobilizing the public.
Barrister Gohar Khan, a PTI member, reportedly carries a list of lawmakers who might soon face disqualification. He recently met Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, seeking justice, but left without any assurance. Similar concerns were raised by other leaders like Umar Ayub Khan, who wrote to the Chief Justice, though the Election Commission seems unfazed.
Mir concluded by reflecting on the precarious situation of the party and the broader political landscape. He warned that when people in positions of power act out of fear, the consequences could be dangerous for the country’s democratic future. Fear-based governance, he argued, is rarely sustainable, urging prayers for deliverance from such forces.