Imran takes up reins of PTI ahead of protest
While taking back full control of party affairs by becoming PTI's patron-in-chief, the former premier said that he would lead a nationwide protest movement from prison, declaring it the party's only remaining path after allegedly being shut out of political and legal avenues.
The new patron-in-chief named Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, to coordinate the protest campaign, apparently sidelining Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who previously used to handle such responsibilities.
The PTI supremo gave no timeline for the protest movement but said it would not be limited to Islamabad this time around. Khan once again clarified that his willingness to negotiate was only in Pakistan's broader interest, not for any personal relief.
The announcements came through PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who met Khan at Adiala Jail during proceedings of the Toshakhana II case.
Speaking to the media afterwards, PTI chairman said Khan believes that "all doors have been closed" on PTI and that a peaceful countrywide protest was now the only path forward.
According to Gohar, Khan made it clear that he would head the protest movement himself, issuing all instructions through the NA opposition leader.
Importantly, Gohar confirmed that this time the communication pertaining to the protest would not rely on Gandapur, who had previously been tasked with organising and leading such events.
"For Ali Amin Khan Sahib," he said the instructions right now are: 'concentrate on the province and governance."
"Different responsibilities will be assigned to different individuals," Gohar said, stressing that Khan has full trust in the party leadership and recognises the sacrifices made by many within the party ranks.
In response to a question, he clarified that no date or time frame for the protest movement has been disclosed yet, saying Khan would determine the timing himself.
To another question, Gohar confirmed that Khan has assumed the role of PTI's patron-in-chief, effectively reasserting full control over party decision-making.
"From now on, all key decisions will be taken by the PTI founder," Gohar said, reiterating that he was the one who used to take all decisions before as well. "He was, is and will remain the leader forever," he said.
Dismissing rumours about his own removal, Gohar insisted he remains the legitimate party chairman as long as Khan decides so, saying Khan was, is and will always remain the party supremo and he was only fulfilling duties until Khan was in jail.
"These are just baseless rumours," he responded to the speculation, adding that some people were spreading rumours about his removal to create confusion.
Gohar stressed that his own preference remains for dialogue over confrontation, saying he has always tried to resolve issues through negotiation and still wanted that.
However, he added that Khan believes "no political path has been left open" for PTI, especially after what he described as alleged rigging in the recent Sambrial by-election on the heels of alleged mandate theft in the general elections.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1724919650-0%2FUntitled-design-(5)1724919650-0-640x480.webp&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
8 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Governor rules out talks with terrorists
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, has declared that there will be no negotiations with those who defy the Constitution or challenge the writ of the state. He urged individuals supporting terrorists to cease providing them shelter, warning that intelligence-based operations will be conducted against them. Addressing the Qaumi Istehkam-e-Pakistan Conference in Peshawar and speaking to the media, the Governor emphasized that Pakistan's armed forces are capable of responding to any threat. "If our military can respond to our eternal enemy within 72 hours, a handful of terrorists hold no significance. They can be neutralized in minutes," he said. He added that while a large-scale military operation is not underway, intelligence-based actions are ongoing because locals do not want to be displaced again. Criticizing the provincial government, he said, "The K-P government is playing Jirga-Jirga while refusing to act decisively. We cannot hold talks with those who reject the Constitution." Addressing propaganda claims that the situation in certain areas is being worsened to exploit mineral resources, he countered, "If that's true, where are the mines in DI Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, and Bannu? This narrative is being used to undermine the army." On PTI's protests, Governor Kundi remarked that the party has been reduced to a "neighborhood group" and will soon be unable to hold rallies even in alleyways. He criticized CM Gandapur, calling him a "good boy" who has compromised on major issues. "It's unfortunate that the province's chief executive doesn't have time for Kashmiris," he added. Taking aim at PTI leader Omar Ayub, he said, "The grandson of a dictator should not lecture us on democracy. These are the same people who stood with Nawaz Sharif and General Musharraf, and are now aligned with Imran Khan. While we visit Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, they head to Corps Commander House." He recalled that PTI was handed a peaceful province in 2013 but failed to maintain law and order. Paying tribute to the armed forces, police, and security personnel, the Governor said, "It is the duty of every citizen to stand against terrorism. We want peace and prosperity in the province, which is rich in natural resources. Development, be it roads, schools, or hospitals, can only happen once peace is ensured." He stressed the need for better relations with neighboring countries but said Pakistan must rely on itself. "No savior will come from abroad," he said. Referring to past military victories, he stated, "The world called for peace when our army responded to Indian aggression. Even today, the Indian prime minister remains stunned by that response. The nation stood with the military then and continues to do so now." "We salute the martyrs of our armed forces, as well as the police and other officers who have sacrificed for the nation," he concluded.
Express Tribune
38 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Road accountability
Listen to article In a welcome move, the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior has approved an amendment to Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code, making the offence of causing death by reckless driving non-bailable. The decision, passed unanimously by the committee, comes in the wake of several high-profile road accidents, and signals a much-needed shift towards legal deterrence and public safety. For far too long, fatal road accidents have been treated as unfortunate but inevitable misadventures. This perception has been reinforced by the fact that most drivers involved in such incidents are able to secure bail with relative ease, often walking free even before investigations are complete. Declaring the offence non-bailable serves to correct this imbalance. It sends a clear message that loss of life due to negligence will no longer be treated lightly. Pakistan has witnessed a worrying rise in fatal road accidents, many of them attributable to speeding and poorly maintained vehicles. The situation is particularly grave on highways and urban routes where trawlers and tankers operate with little oversight. These vehicles, often unfit, pose a significant threat to both pedestrians and motorists alike. The lack of stringent regulation and weak enforcement of traffic laws has allowed this culture of impunity to flourish. While the amendment is a step in the right direction, its success will ultimately depend on implementation. Legal provisions, no matter how well-intentioned, mean little if they are not enforced uniformly and without fear or favour. Police capacity must be strengthened and transport authorities held accountable for lack of implementation of road laws. The amendment to Section 320 is a long-overdue correction. One can only hope it marks the beginning of a broader effort to restore safety and accountability to Pakistan's roads.
Express Tribune
39 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Kashmir, Khan and echoes of betrayed promises
The writer is a public policy analyst based in Lahore. She can be reached at durdananajam1@ Listen to article August 5 has come to symbolise two distinct narratives in Pakistan. For supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — which now represents an overwhelming majority of the population, thanks to the establishment's relentless and illogical rivalry with Imran Khan — it marks the second anniversary of their leader's incarceration. At the official level, however, the day is commemorated in solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, whose semi-autonomous status and special rights were stripped following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution. Yet, one suspects that most Pakistanis are aware of the constitutional intricacies affecting Kashmiris. Given the mass exodus from Pakistan and the alarming rise in poverty, it's understandable why many would hesitate to wish the same fate upon Kashmiris — being absorbed into a nation deliberately kept broken and dysfunctional by its ruling elite. The condition of those living in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir is, perhaps, evidence enough of this grim reality. In 2018, PTI emerged as one of Pakistan's most popular political parties. By 2025, it has reclaimed that status. In the intervening years, PTI governed for three years before being pushed to the political margins through a familiar tactic: the formation of a united opposition. In Pakistan, political unity is rare and usually reserved for two occasions — when legislation serves personal or business interests; and when the ruling party must be ousted under the guise of national interest. Many analysts and PTI loyalists argue that Imran Khan should have declined the premiership in 2018. They believe that leveraging his popularity from the opposition benches could have secured him a sweeping mandate in subsequent elections — free from establishment strings. With legislative strength, he could have pursued bold reforms with full institutional backing. Instead, Khan opted for hybrid governance, believing he would be treated differently than his predecessors. Like most Pakistanis, he assumed that his unwavering loyalty to Pakistan would earn him institutional support. After all, no previous leader had prioritised national interest over personal gain. From 2014 to 2018, Khan relentlessly branded the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as "thieves", embedding this narrative deep into public consciousness. Despite reservations about his alliance with the establishment, many hoped Khan's government would be allowed to function independently, free from judicial interference. Over time, he cultivated an aura of indispensability. His trust in the establishment led him — and the public - to believe that the very "thieves" he helped remove would never return to power until held accountable. But like all constructs built on fragile assumptions, this belief crumbled under the weight of reality. By April 9, 2021, Khan's popularity had waned, largely due to the inevitable governance challenges arising from a hybrid and compromised system. Yet, overnight, he surged back to prominence when PTI was ousted and replaced by the very political actors the establishment had long vilified. The irony was not lost on the public. The next day, Pakistanis across the country — and in diaspora communities in the US and the UK — took to the streets. Their protest wasn't just about PTI's removal; it was a collective mourning of the collapse of trust in the establishment and the erosion of democratic values. When Shahbaz Sharif was appointed Prime Minister, he was facing indictment in a multi-million-dollar financial fraud case. Instead of facing justice, he was greeted with rose petals - a stark reminder of the selective accountability that plagues Pakistan's political system. By April 10, 2021, Imran Khan stood alone as the only credible figure in Pakistan's political landscape — for an vast majority of the population. As predicted, Khan remained the most popular leader in 2024 and won the elections with a resounding mandate. Had he trusted the democratic process instead of relying on power brokers, the trajectory might have been different. His two-year resistance to unconstitutional interventions and the public's shattered trust in the military have plunged the country into a state of collective frustration. The illegitimacy of the PDM 2.0 government is evident to all — except those who engineered it. The people stand with Khan because they see in him a reflection of their own victimhood at the hands of a power structure that, though designed to serve the nation, has become its greatest adversary. Today, the pressing question is: Can Imran Khan survive the ruthless persecution of his party and the inhumane conditions of his imprisonment? History offers a sobering pattern. Pakistan's most popular leaders — those who believed in the power of the people — Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto — all met unnatural ends. Khan's defiance of absolute power and his rivals' surrender to it have set the tone for Pakistan's future. The king stands naked. No matter how desperately he tries to cloak himself, the people see through the hypocrisy, illegitimacy and usurpation of power. August 5 stands as a testament to the resilience of people who refuse to be silenced. In commemorating this day, Pakistanis are not just mourning losses — they are reclaiming their right to choose, to question, and to hope.
