The exhausting internal crisis of the PTI

ISLAMABAD:

Ali Amin Gandapur was once the face of the PTI resistance. Hand-picked by jailed PTI founder Imran Khan as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, he was seen as a hardliner capable of maintaining the party’s confrontational stance as long as its leader remained behind bars.

On two occasions he led protesters towards the capital, demanding the release of Imran Khan.

However, last week, that image fractured. Gandapur faced criticism from within his own ranks after giving interviews that questioned the party’s strategy. Once celebrated for his defiance, he now faces hostility from sections of the same support base that once cheered him.

The shift from hero to villain, analysts say, reflects deeper internal divisions within the PTI and a growing lack of clarity over its strategic direction at a time when its central leadership remains under pressure.

Gandapur claimed that while serving as chief minister, he had urged party leaders and even Imran Khan’s sisters not to take a hostile approach but focus on securing the PTI leader’s release. He further claimed that Imran was misled in jail by some party leaders about the scale of street support.

His comments sparked a strong reaction from the party’s hardliners, who labeled him a “coward.”

However, experts suggest that Gandapur’s position is not isolated. Some within the party believe a recalibration of strategy is necessary rather than a continued confrontation with the powers that be.
It was partly for this reason that Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas were appointed opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, in the hope that their participation could help open channels of communication with other stakeholders.

However, hardliners remain dissatisfied with the decision to empower the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan alliance. Veteran party workers feel marginalized, believing that years of loyalty have not translated into influence within the evolving power structure.

Analysts point to a growing communication gap within the party. With the leader isolated from direct contact, confusion has filtered down to higher levels. Critics have also questioned Barrister Gohar’s leadership, asking whether he was appointed simply to counter statements issued by other party figures.

Political analyst Hassan Askari characterizes the situation as one of “dependency on leadership and infighting.” “Many political parties rely heavily on their leadership, and with central figures like Imran Khan and some others arrested or sidelined, the remaining second or third tier leaders struggle to maintain energy, direction and internal coherence. Without a clearly established hierarchy or self-sustaining leadership, the party is unable to pursue its intended agenda and lacks a clear sense of direction and organizational focus, making strategic coordination and unified action increasingly difficult,” Askari told The Express PAkGazette on Sunday.

According to Zaigham Khan, the responsibility lies with the structural evolution of the PTI. He maintains that the party continues to operate more as a movement than a fully institutionalized political party, and has never completed the subsequent transition to power that established parties such as the Pakistan People’s Party experienced.

“Its decision-making and mobilization has long revolved around Imran Khan as the central authority, and his absence has exposed structural weaknesses such as lack of hierarchy, weak institutional mechanisms and competition for leadership, producing the strategic confusion now visible within the party,” Zaigham said.

Beyond internal organizational divisions, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanam is seen by the government as a major factor in the current tensions. The latest episode concerns Imran Khan’s health, with Aleema insisting that the party maintain the sit-in until it is granted access to its own doctors.

The party chose the opposite. In a recent interview, he maintained that he was not interfering in party affairs but was concentrating on his brother’s health, suggesting that PTI leaders unwilling to fight for him should step aside.

Zaigham Khan describes Aleema Khanam as the most credible source of communication within the party and one of its strongest internal power centers.