PTI faces an internal crack on protest plans on August 5

The Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) is dealing with internal divisions on the timeline and the strategy for a national protest aimed at ensuring the release of its imprisoned founder, former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Discord, mainly between the central leadership of the party and its chapter of Punjab, has increased tensions as the protest date of August 5 proposed is approaching, which mark two years since Khan’s imprisonment.

The central leadership, including President Barríster Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s prime minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, has advocated a 90-day campaign that culminated in a decisive protest, emphasizing a strategic accumulation to maximize the impact.

Gandapur, speaking at a Lahore press conference on July 13, described the movement as an effort to “do or die” to challenge what PTI calls a “fascist regime” and to ensure the launch of Khan.

Read more: Aleem Khan welcomes the unit of PTI parliamentarians at the Lahore meeting

He stressed that the campaign would imply mobilizing supporters in all districts and Tehsil, reaching its maximum point before August 5, after which a new phase would be announced.

In contrast, the chief organizer of PTI Punjab, Aliya Hamza Malik, has firmly supported an immediate protest on August 5, aligning with a call attributed to Imran Khan through her sister, Aleema Khan.

According to reports, Malik has threatened to resign if the party deviates from this date, highlighting the lack of coordination with central leadership.

The sources indicate that Malik has already ordered the organization of the Punjab party to prepare for the protest of August 5, mobilizing workers in districts such as Okara, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpattan, Faisalabad and Chininot.

The crack was made public when Malik, excluded from a key strategy meeting in Lahore, expressed his frustration in X.

In a series of publications, he questioned the origins of the 90 -day plan and sought clarity about the objectives of the movement, stating: “The focus and objective are only the release of Imran Khan.”

His absence of the meeting, which included Gandapur, the secretary general of PTI Salman Akram Raja and the opposition leader of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Bhachaha, was fired by slit as due to “other commitments”, an Malik statement refuted Sarásically, pointing out that he was not knowing his alleged occupied.

However, Aleema Khan, speaking with the media, welcomed Lahore’s meeting as a sign of unity among PTI parliamentarians, but expressed his ignorance about Malik’s exclusion, stating: “They told us that this was a meeting of parliamentarians.”

She reaffirmed the call of Imran Khan so that the protests reached on August 5, noting that her whole family would participate, including her children based in the United Kingdom.

The lawyer Gohar has tried to quell discord, urging leaders to address concerns through the internal channels of the party instead of public forums. “If any leader has a complaint, I should inform me directly,” he said, promising to intensify problems to Imran Khan.

However, the public dispute has raised concerns about PTI’s cohesion at a critical situation, and some analysts suggest that it reflects deeper issues of centralization and confidence within the party.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government, led by Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz, has indicated a firm position against possible disturbances.

The provincial information minister, Azma Bukhari, recognized the right to peaceful protest, but accused PTI of a history of violence, referring to the incidents of May 9, 2023. “No political party is allowed to attack with weapons,” said Bukhari, warning that the disruptive tactics would find a strict action.

As PTI navigates these internal challenges, the party also faces external pressures, including government repression after past protests.

The protest of the “final call” of November 2024 in Islamabad, directed by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi and Gandapur, resulted in at least six deaths, including four security personnel and almost 1,000 arrests, according to independent reports.

Amnesty International has requested transparent investigation into the use of lethal force during these confrontations, highlighting a pattern of intolerance for the Pacific Assembly in Pakistan.

With the deadline of August 5, PTI’s ability to unify their leadership and mobilize supporters will be critical for the success of their campaign.

The current crack runs the risk of undermining the impulse of the party, potentially weakening its position against a government already fortified by security measures and legal actions against PTI members.