Since the successful vote of no confidence in April 2022, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has faced relentless pressure, culminating in the "Final Call" announced on November 24, 2024. PTI believes that incidents like the May 9 protests were orchestrated to weaken the party, and it accuses the government of stealing its mandate on February 8.
PTI’s leadership is either behind bars or sidelined from core decision-making. Lawyers leading the party struggle to strategize effectively, with all major decisions subject to approval from PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned in Adiala Jail.
Khan’s call for the November 24 protest sought to reclaim the party's stolen mandate, abolish the 26th constitutional amendment, ensure the rule of law, and secure the release of PTI’s political prisoners.
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Despite significant momentum, the protest led by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, from Peshawar to Islamabad was abruptly canceled on the night of November 26. PTI blamed the state's alleged use of force, including baton charges, for the protest’s cancellation, while the government declared the outcome a victory.
Following the protest's cancellation, Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, hinted at a potential game-changing move. Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail on December 3, she quoted Khan as saying, "I have one card left, which I will use at the right time." This enigmatic statement has sparked widespread speculation about PTI’s remaining political options.
To explore PTI’s potential pathways, TNN sought insights from political analysts.
Senior journalist and anchor Maria Memon from ARY News believes PTI now faces an existential crisis, with no middle ground left. She compared the situation to the Bhutto-Zia era, where only one political figure could survive the tumult.
According to Memon, Imran Khan has rejected the establishment’s traditional "turn-taking" political formula, embraced by parties like the PPP and PML-N. "We are no longer in a political domain; it’s now a battle of intimidation and survival," she added.
Journalist Majid Nizami argued that PTI retains multiple political avenues, including leveraging its provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). However, Nizami emphasized the need for internal clarity: "PTI must decide whether to pursue its demands through negotiation or resistance."
Lehaz Ali, Bureau Chief of Neo News in Peshawar, suggested that PTI can present KP’s provincial government as a national role model to regain public trust. "Within the constitutional framework, PTI’s provincial government can challenge the federal government through mechanisms like the Council of Common Interests," Ali noted.
Senior journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami from Dunya News highlighted that repeated failed protests could weaken PTI politically. However, he added that abandoning aggressive tactics for a more traditional political approach could help the party regain relevance. "PTI has historically thrived in opposition, and it could regain momentum by playing the victim card strategically," Shami explained.
Dr. Hasan Askari, a political analyst on Dunya News’ "Think Tank," dismissed the notion that PTI will retreat into silence. He believes the recent crackdown has further angered PTI supporters, making future protests inevitable.
Lehaz Ali added that PTI’s supporters rally solely for Imran Khan, not other leaders like Gandapur or Hammad Azhar. "If Khan calls for another protest, people will come out again, albeit in smaller numbers, as many will now question where they are being led and if they will be abandoned again."
