PTI faces internal rift over August 5 protest plans
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is grappling with internal divisions over the timeline and strategy for a nationwide protest aimed at securing the release of its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan.
The discord, primarily between the party's central leadership and its Punjab chapter, has escalated tensions as the proposed August 5 protest date approaches, marking two years since Khan's imprisonment.
The central leadership — including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur — has advocated for a 90-day campaign culminating in a decisive protest, emphasising a strategic build-up to maximise impact.
Gandapur, speaking at a Lahore press conference on July 13, described the movement as a 'do-or-die' effort to challenge what PTI calls a 'fascist regime' and to secure Khan's release.
Read More: Aleema Khan welcomes PTI Parliamentarians' unity at Lahore meeting
He stressed that the campaign would involve mobilising supporters across every district and tehsil, peaking by August 5, after which a new phase would be announced.
In contrast, PTI Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik has firmly backed an immediate protest on August 5, aligning with a call attributed to Imran Khan via his sister, Aleema Khan.
Malik has reportedly threatened to resign if the party deviates from this date, highlighting a lack of coordination with the central leadership.
Sources indicate that Malik has already directed Punjab's party organisation to prepare for the August 5 protest, mobilising workers in districts such as Okara, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Faisalabad, and Chiniot.
The rift became public when Malik, excluded from a key strategy meeting in Lahore, voiced her frustration on X.
ویسے تو میرے تک پہنچنے والی کچھ اطلاعات کے مطابق میں پچھلےدو دن سے بہت مصروف تھی 🫣
ایسی مصروفیات جن کا شاید مجھے بھی عمل نہیں تھا!
کیا کوئی روشنی ڈالے گا؟
وزیراعظم خان کی رہائی کے لیے کس لائحہ عمل کا کل یا آج اعلان ہوا ہے؟
تحریک کہاں سے اور کیسے چلے گی؟
5اگست کے مقابلے میں 90…
— Aliya Hamza Malik (@aliya_hamza) July 13, 2025
In a series of posts, she questioned the origins of the 90-day plan and sought clarity on the movement's objectives, stating, 'The focus and target is only the release of Imran Khan.'
Her absence from the meeting — which included Gandapur, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bhachar — was dismissed by Raja as due to 'other commitments,' a claim Malik refuted sarcastically, noting she was unaware of her supposed busyness.
However, Aleema Khan, speaking to the media, welcomed the Lahore gathering as a sign of unity among PTI parliamentarians but expressed ignorance about Malik's exclusion, stating, 'We were told this was a meeting of parliamentarians.'
She reaffirmed Imran Khan's call for protests to peak on August 5, noting that his entire family, including his UK-based sons, would participate.
90 دن یا 5 اگست کا سوال
ہم عمران خان کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں انہوں نے 5 اگست کہا ہے تو بس وہ ہی تاریخ ہے ہم اپنے کام پر فوکس کر رہے ہیں ہمارا نشانہ عمران خان کی رہائی ہونی چاہیے باقی باتیں فضول ہیں ۔
چیف آرگنائزر پنجاب عالیہ pic.twitter.com/3YG3f8bns8 — Ahmad Hassan Bobak (@ahmad__bobak) July 14, 2025
Barrister Gohar has attempted to quell the discord, urging leaders to address concerns through internal party channels rather than public forums. 'If any leader has a complaint, they should inform me directly,' he said, promising to escalate issues to Imran Khan.
However, the public spat has raised concerns about PTI's cohesion at a critical juncture, with some analysts suggesting it reflects deeper issues of centralisation and trust within the party.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has signalled a firm stance against potential unrest.
Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari acknowledged the right to peaceful protest but accused PTI of a history of violence, referencing the May 9, 2023, incidents. 'No political party is allowed to attack with weapons,' Bukhari said, warning that disruptive tactics would be met with strict action.
As PTI navigates these internal challenges, the party also faces external pressures, including a government crackdown following past protests.
The November 2024 'Final Call' protest in Islamabad — led by Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, and Gandapur — resulted in at least six deaths, including four security personnel, and nearly 1,000 arrests, according to independent reports.
Amnesty International has called for a transparent investigation into the use of lethal force during those clashes, highlighting a pattern of intolerance for peaceful assembly in Pakistan.
With the August 5 deadline looming, PTI's ability to unify its leadership and mobilise supporters will be critical to the success of its campaign.
The ongoing rift risks undermining the party's momentum, potentially weakening its position against a government already fortified by security measures and legal actions against PTI members.
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