PTI Leadership Disturbed by Haripur By-Election Loss, Considers Shift Toward Negotiated Politics
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership is reportedly disheartened by what it views as a “managed” yet unexpected defeat in the Haripur by-election — a key constituency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the party currently holds power.
According to party insiders, the loss has triggered serious introspection within the top ranks, sparking debate over whether PTI’s long-standing confrontational political strategy is now causing its political space to shrink — even within its stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sources suggest that PTI’s senior leadership is now seriously evaluating the possibility of shifting towards a politics of negotiation. Leaders reviewing the defeat believe that the political ground the party has been struggling to regain for months is “narrowing even in KP,” despite having its own government in the province.
The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of former Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, whose wife was PTI’s candidate. The defeat is being treated as a warning sign within the party that its existing political approach may no longer be workable.
Well-informed sources told *The News* that shortly after the by-poll results, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan visited Omar Ayub at his residence, where both leaders held detailed discussions on the situation.
Confirming the meeting, Barrister Gohar said they reviewed the “advantages and disadvantages of the party’s political strategy over the past three years,” and discussed the future course of action.
Party insiders believe that Barrister Gohar’s post-election remarks hinting at a new political approach reflect the evolving thinking within the top leadership. One source said it is evident that “the establishment is still not fully willing to accept PTI’s mandate,” a perception that has compelled the leadership to reconsider its confrontational posture.
Known as one of PTI’s moderate voices, Barrister Gohar has long advocated dialogue over confrontation. Shah Mahmood Qureshi and several detained party leaders have also called for negotiations in the past, but the confrontational bloc within PTI prevented such moves.
Sources claim the Haripur setback has strengthened the position of moderates within the party, with more leaders now believing that negotiation-based politics is the only viable path forward.
However, any final decision rests with PTI’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, who has so far sided with the confrontational camp rather than the moderate voices.
