Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف Pakistan Movement for Justice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PTI |
| President | Parvez Elahi |
| Chairman | Gohar Ali Khan |
| Secretary-General | Salman Akram Raja[1] |
| Spokesperson | Sheikh Waqas Akram |
| Vice Chairman | Shah Mahmood Qureshi[2] |
| Leader in Senate | Shibli Faraz |
| Leader in National Assembly | Omar Ayub Khan |
| Founder | Imran Khan |
| Founded | 25 April 1996 (29 years ago) (1996-04-25) |
| Headquarters | Sector G-6/4 Islamabad-44000,ICT |
| Student wing | Insaf Student Federation |
| Youth wing | Insaf Youth Wing[3] |
| Women's wing | Insaf Women Wing |
| Research Wing | Insaf Research Wing |
| Membership(2012) | 10 million[4] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre[15] tocentre-right[19] |
| National affiliation | Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin[20] |
| Colors | |
| Slogan | Change the system—change Pakistan[21] |
| Senate | 22 / 96 |
| National Assembly | 114 / 336 |
| Punjab Assembly | 138 / 371 |
| Sindh Assembly | 11 / 168 |
| KPK Assembly | 92 / 145 |
| Balochistan Assembly | 1 / 65 |
| GB Assembly | 22 / 33 |
| AJK Assembly | 32 / 53 |
| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| www | |
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Personal Post-premiership | ||
ThePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)[a] is a political party inPakistan established in 1996 by cricketer and politicianImran Khan, who served as the country's prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The party is led byGohar Ali Khan since late 2023. The PTI ranks among the three majorPakistani political parties alongside thePakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML–N) and thePakistan People's Party (PPP).
Despite Khan's popular persona in Pakistan, the PTI had limited initial success:[22] it failed to win, as a collective, a single seat in the1997 general election and the2002 general election; only Khan himself was able to win a seat. From 1999 to 2007, the PTI supported the presidency of GeneralPervez Musharraf. It later rose in opposition to Musharraf in 2007 and also boycotted the2008 general election, accusing it of having been conducted with fraudulent procedures under Musharraf's rule. The global popularity of the "Third Way" during the Musharraf era led to the rise of a new Pakistani political bloc focused oncentrism, deviating from the traditional dominance of thecentre-left PPP and thecentre-right PML–N. When the PML–Q began to decline in the aftermath of Musharraf's presidency, much of its centrist voter bank was lost to the PTI. Around the same time, the PPP's popularity began to decrease after the disqualification ofYusuf Raza Gillani in 2012. With a claimed membership of over 10 million in Pakistan in 2012,[4] the PTI appealed to many former PPP voters, particularly in the provinces ofPunjab andKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, due to its outlook onpopulism.
In the2013 general election, the PTI emerged as a major party with over 7.5 million votes, ranking second by number of votes and third by number of seats won. At the provincial level, it was voted to power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During its time in opposition, the PTI, with the help of popular slogans such asTabdeeli Arahi Hai (lit. 'change is coming'), mobilized people in rallies over public distress on various national issues, the most notable of which was the2014 Azadi march.[23] In the2018 general election, it received 16.9 million votes—the largest amount for any political party in Pakistan thus far. It became the largest party in terms of representation in theNational Assembly of Pakistan since the2018 general election and then formed the national government in coalition with five other parties for the first time, with Khan serving as the new Pakistani prime minister. However, in April 2022, ano-confidence motion against Khan removed him and his PTI government from office at the federal level. Following the 2024 election, PTI's successful candidates joinedSunni Ittehad Council (SIC) at Khan's behest and, as SIC, govern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the provincial level and serve as the largest opposition party in Punjab.[24][25]
Officially, the PTI has stated that its focus is on turning Pakistan into a model welfare state espousingIslamic socialism,[6][26] and also on dismantlingreligious discrimination against Pakistani minorities.[27][8] The PTI terms itself an anti–status quo movement advocating anIslamic democracy centred onegalitarianism.[10][26][28] It claims to be the onlynon-dynastic party of mainstream Pakistani politics in contrast to parties such as the PPP and PML–N.[29] Since 2019, the party has been criticized by political opponents and analysts alike for its failures to address various economic and political issues, particularly thePakistani economy, which was further weakened in light of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[30][31][32] However, Khan's government was later praised for leading the country's pandemic recovery in its later stages.[33] During its time in power, the party faced backlash over its crackdown on the Pakistani opposition as well as its regulation of increased censorship through curbs on Pakistani media outlets and freedom of speech.[34][35][36]
The party faced a crackdown following theMay 9 riots, with arrests, detention and the resignation of party leaders, while the government claimed that this action was a necessary response to the violence, vandalism, and arson allegedly carried out by PTI officeholders and supporters. On 2 December 2023,Gohar Ali Khan was elected unopposed as the Chairman of the PTI. Imran Khan nominated him for the position of the new chairman of the PTI.[37]
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was founded by Imran Khan on 25 April 1996 inLahore.[38] Founded initially as a sociopolitical movement, in June 1996, the first Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was formed under the leadership of Imran Khan, including Naeemul Haque, Ahsan Rasheed, Hafeez Khan, Mowahid Hussain, Mahmood Awan, and Nausherwan Burki[39] as founding members. PTI began to grow slowly but did not achieve immediate popularity.
AfterBenazir Bhutto wasassassinated in 2007 and Nawaz Sharif returned from self-exile in Saudi Arabia, pressure increased upon President Musharraf to hold democratic elections. PTI, in conjunction with many political parties, joined theAll Parties Democratic Movement, which was opposed to further military rule. Thegeneral election in 2008 resulted in a PPP victory. However, PTI boycotted this election in protest against electoral manipulation byPervez Musharraf.[40] A membership drive in November and December 2008 resulted in 150,000 people joining the party.[41]
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PTI emerged as a major party in the2013 Pakistani general election and raised public distress on various issues against the government in the following years.[23] It became the opposition party in Punjab and Sindh, with Imran Khan becoming theparliamentary leader of the party.[42][43] PTI swooped themilitancy-hit northwesternKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, and formed the provincial government.[44][45] The PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, known as thePervez Khattak Administration presented a balanced, tax-free budget for the fiscal year 2013–14.[46] In governance, PTI tried to move with religious ulema (clergy) to end discrimination against female education.[47] But the policy of Madrassah reforms, especially fundingDarul Uloom Haqqania renowned for its links with Taliban and killers ofBenazir Bhutto was criticised by many.[48][49] The financial accountability introduced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under PTI's government entitled it to an extra Rs 1.5 billion ($150 million) from the federal government.[50][51] PTI's Chief Minister,Pervez Khattak began infrastructure projects to build dams which aimed to limit flooding and provide small scale electricity in remote areas.[52] Khattak carried out healthcare reforms such as introducing Health Insurance Scheme,Sehat Sahulat Program[53][54] for poor people and an 'Insulin for life' fund.[55] Khattak also inspected hospitals and dismissed alleged corrupt staff and absent staff, often on the spot.[56] Anti-corruption drives in the police led to the conviction of officers found to be corrupt.[57]
On 13 November 2013, Chairman Imran Khan orderedChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak to dismissBakht Baidar and Ibrar Hussan Kamoli of theQaumi Watan Party (QWP) over corruption allegations and to end the PTI's alliance with the party. Baidar, Minister for Manpower and Industry, and Kamoli, Minister for Forest and Environment, were removed, respectively.[58]
A year after elections, on 11 May 2014, PTI alleged that the 2013 general elections were rigged in favour of the ruling PML (N).[59] On 14 August 2014, Imran Khan leda rally of supporters from Lahore to Islamabad, demanding Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif's resignation and investigation into alleged electoral fraud.[60] On its way to the capital, the PTI convoy was attacked by stones from PML (N) supporters inGujranwala; there were no fatalities.[61] On 15 August, PTI-led protesters entered the capital and a few days later marched into the high-securityRed Zone; on 1 September 2014, according toAl Jazeera protesters attempted to storm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's official residence, which prompted the outbreak of violence. Three people died and more than 595 people were injured, including 115 police officers.[62] Prior to the violence that resulted in deaths, Imran Khan asked his followers to take law into their own hands.[63]
By September 2014, PTI entered into ade facto alliance with Canadian-Pakistani clericMuhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and hisPakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT); both aimed to mobilise their supporters for regime change.[64][65] Khan entered into an agreement with the Sharif administration to establish a three-member high-powered judicial commission which would be formed under a presidential ordinance.[66]
In 2017, ChairmanImran Khan and PTI allySheikh Rasheed petitioned thePanama Papers Case in the aftermath of thePanama Papers leak, which uncovered links between theSharif family and eightoffshore companies.[67][68][69] The Court initially ordered the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to inquire into allegations ofmoney laundering,corruption, and contradictory statements by Sharif and his relations in a 3–2 split decision on 20 April 2017, with the dissenting judges ruling that Sharif be disqualified.[70] After the JIT submitted its report and subsequent arguments were heard, the Court disqualified Sharif from holding public office byunanimous verdict.[71] The case was described as the most publicized in Pakistan's history, as well as a "defining moment" for the country.[72][73]
During the 2017 intra-party elections, 2.7 million party workers cast their votes in a two-day process for party positions.Imran Khan was re-elected chairman by a large margin. Khan was chairing theInsaf panel and earned 189,055 votes while the rivalEhtesab panel secured 41,647 votes. Around 26,256 votes were rejected. The results were the following:[74][75]
In the2018 Pakistani general election, PTI launched a countrywidepopulist andanti-corruption campaign. PTI’s campaign gained confidence after its biggest opponent,Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) fell to major corruption allegations following thePanama Papers Case.[76] PTI won a large plurality across the country becoming the largest party in the National Assembly following its widespread campaign for a‘Naya Pakistan’ (New Pakistan).[77] PTI also won an even larger majority inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa a second time and won the most seats inPunjab to form a government. The party also became the largest opposition party inSindh and received significant representation inBalochistan. PTI won a total of 116 of the 270 seats contested. Opposition parties, mainly PML-N, alleged major vote rigging and malpractices.[76][78][79]
PTI’s taking office saw a break in thePPP andPML-N two-party system. In May 2018, PTI announced a100-day agenda for a government. The agenda included sweeping reforms in almost all areas of government including creation of a new province inSouthern Punjab, fast tracking of merger ofFederally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) intoKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, betterment of law and order situation inKarachi, and betterment of relations with Baloch political leaders.[80][81][82] PTI’s governance model was announced as to build Pakistan as a humanitarian state based on principles of the first Islamic state ofMedina.[83]
On 6 August 2018, PTI officially nominatedImran Khan as the candidate for prime minister.[84] After the election, PTI formed a wide rangingcoalition government of several parties falling at thepolitical centre. Imran Khan and PTI made several key appointments and nominations for national and provincial level public office holders as the winning party. PTI’s cabinet placed top party leadership, Central General SecretaryAsad Umar,Hammad Azhar and Vice ChairmanShah Mahmood Qureshi in top ministries.Mahmood Khan was madeChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by PTI. Imran Khan nominated a lesser-known figure,Usman Buzdar forChief Minister of Punjab, though the appointment attracted criticism for incompetence from many PTI members includingJahangir Tareen and Asad Umar, who opposed the appointment of Buzdar, which rose doubts and tensions in the party.[85][86]
During the party’s time in the federal government, PTI faced major rifts in the party over its party leadership including inSindh,[87][88] between bureaucrats and PTI politicians as well as other political parties.[89] PTI’s provincial and national cabinets faced major reshuffles as PTI core member andSenior Minister of Punjab,Aleem Khan and Punjab MinisterSibtain Khan stepped down from the cabinet after being arrested on corruption charges.[90][91] Top ministers in the PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet,Atif Khan,Shakeel Ahmad andShahram Khan Tarakai were also expelled from the cabinet by Imran Khan after going against party directives to oust Chief MinisterMahmood Khan.[92][93] The largest rift in relations would be with thePakistan Armed Forces, which PTI’s relations would worsen with in 2022.[94] The PTI federal government faced criticism on certain comments and policies such as slow economic growth during theCOVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan but retained praise for handling the pandemic[33] and for an economic recovery in later years.[95][96][97] An austerity drive and a number of welfare programs were also set up by the PTI government to create a social safety net under the party’s flagshipEhsaas Programme andSehat Insaf Card.[98] The government was set to finish its term in 2023 but was ousted ina 2022 no confidence motion.
Following theno-confidence motion against his government in 2022, Party ChairmanImran Khan launched theAzadi March I andAzadi March II as a set of protests and marches against theShehbaz Sharif government from May to November 2022. On 24 May 2022, Khan announced a long march (Azadi March I) towardsIslamabad starting on 25 May 2022.[99] Khan lead the march fromPeshawar, the capital ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his provincial government helped him. Senior PTI members lead the march fromLahore, the capital ofPunjab. Imran Khan asked people to reach theSrinagar Highway inIslamabad to support his demands for early elections. His workers would stay in Islamabad as required, for their only demand would be to give a date for clean and transparent general elections and to dissolve assemblies.[100] Addressing the bureaucracy and the police, Khan said it would be illegal for them to take any action against the "peaceful protest". Addressing thePakistan Army, he said "if you are neutral then be neutral too".[101][102] It was expected that the protest would involve around 2 million workers marching to Islamabad and that they would remain there until the election is declared. The protesters, led byImran Khan, aimed to hold a sit-in atD-Chowk in Islamabad until the date for the dissolution of assemblies and a date for new general elections was announced.[103] Imran Khan gave a six-day ultimatum to the government to declare elections and dissolve assemblies.[104]
Imran announced a movement forHaqeeqi Azadi, translated ‘Real Freedom’.[105] The Azadi March II started when Khan announced on 25 October 2022, that the long march will begin on 28 October, fromAzadi Chowk,Lahore, and will end inIslamabad before turning into asit-in.[106][107][108] There was anattempted assassination of Imran Khan during the early days of the march. Khan decided to push for the dissolution of the provincial assemblies ofPunjab andKhyber Pakhtunkhwa to force early elections instead of continuing the march.[109][110]
In the second wave of expansion, the PTI welcomedParvez Elahi,Moonis Elahi and ten former MPAs of thePakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML(Q)) into the party after political rifts emerged between the President of the PML(Q),Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain andParvez Elahi. Elahi was the former president of the Punjab Division of the PML(Q). On 7 March 2023, Parvez Elahi took the charge as the President of PTI, a party position that was previously held byJaved Hashmi.[111] However, as per the constitution of the PTI that was approved on 1 August 2022 by Imran Khan and the party's National Council, the position of President does not exist in the structure of the party.[112]
On 19 March 2023,Ijaz-ul-Haq, the leader of thePakistan Muslim League (Z) (PML(Z)) along with his party members, joined the PTI after meeting with Imran Khan. The PML(Z) was also merged into the PTI.[113][114] On 29 May 2023, Ijaz later denied the rumours of PML-Z getting merged into PTI.[115][116]
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On 9 May 2023, after the arrest ofImran Khan, the leader of the PTI, from theIslamabad High Court grounds, nationwide demonstrations by PTI supporters turned into violentriots. PTI workers and members caused incidents of vandalism, looting, and arson, resulting in Rs. 1.98 billion in damages to government and military facilities.[117]Punjab Police, using geo-fencing reports, alleged that Imran Khan and key PTI leaders coordinated efforts to incite attacks on the residence of the Lahore corps commander and other sensitive locations. Police reported over 400 calls made by PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, instructing rioters to target these areas. Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar confirmed the use of geo-fencing to trace these communications, naming Imran Khan as a prime suspect in orchestrating the attacks. Other PTI leaders involved includedHammad Azhar,Yasmin Rashid,Mehmood-ur-Rasheed,Ejaz Chaudhary,Mian Aslam Iqbal, andMurad Raas, all of whom were reportedly in contact with the rioters and issued specific instructions for the attacks,[118] while PTI has denied these claims and alleged that government agencies were behind the riots.[119] Furthermore, PTI has alleged that the May 9 riots were a “false flag operation” designed by thePakistan Armed Forces andThe Establishment to destroy and crackdown on the party as well as to arbitrarily arrest party leadership.[120][121][122]
A detailed order fromAnti-Terrorism Court Judge Khalid Arshad implicated PTI's founder, Imran Khan, in orchestrating attacks on military installations, government properties, and police officials. The order revealed that Khan had instructed PTI leaders to create chaos and exert pressure for his release if arrested, as testified by two prosecution witnesses. The court order described a meeting held on 7 May 2023, where Khan allegedly directed PTI leaders to prepare for potential unrest on May 9, should he be detained. He purportedly warned through a video message of a scenario akin toSri Lanka's unrest; if he were to be arrested, encouraging party workers to engage in what he termed a "realjihad for real freedom." The prosecution suggested that Khan orchestrated acriminal conspiracy, rallying top PTI leadership to incite actions that culminated in theattack and arson of the Jinnah House (Corp Commander House, Lahore), aiming to intimidate the government.[123][124][125] TheLahore High Court meanwhile stated that Imran Khan had no relation to the May 9 riots and that there is no audio or video evidence available on record to prove that Khan was behind the attacks on state installations on 9 May 2023.[126] In 2024 Khan also endorsed Army Corps Commanders' statement for a May 9 probe, calling for severe punishment and added CCTV footage should be used for identification, saying "[n]either we are anti-army nor want a clash with forces".[127]
After the riots, a crackdown was initiated bygovernment of Shehbaz Sharif against PTI leaders and workers, with thousands arrested, with rights groups raising concerns regarding arbitrary arrests, custodial torture, and forced disappearances.[128][129][130] PTI revealed evidence suggesting that PTI workers and party members were harassed, and unlawfully arrested.[131][132] PTI leaders were forced to quit party/party positions in televised press conferences.[133] Businesses of PTI leaders who did not quit the party were sealed.[134][135][136] Mian Aslam Iqbal alleged thatdowry for his daughter's wedding was seized by Punjab Police; andAli Nawaz Awan alleged that his home was demolished.[137][138][139] A crackdown was also initiated on vocal women supporters of PTI - the most prominent of which was Khadija Shah, a businesswoman and granddaughter of former Pakistani Army Chief,Asif Nawaz Janjua.[140][141] Former Federal Ministers,Shehryar Khan Afridi andAli Muhammad Khan, former Governor PunjabOmer Sarfraz Cheema, and former Punjab provincial ministers, Yasmin Rashid and Mehmood-ur-Rasheed have been incarcerated since the end of the riots. Even once released by the courts, they were immediately re-arrested in other cases; Khan has been rearrested six times, while Afridi, and Rashid have been rearrested twice.[129][142][143][144] Cheema's wife was arrested as she came to attend her husband's hearing.[145] Afridi was not allowed to attend his brother's funeral and was kept in inhumane conditions in a 'death cell' reserved for those on death row.[146][147]
Dozens of PTI leaders resigned after the May 9 protests, including:Faiz Ullah Kamoka,[148]Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain,[149]Aftab Siddiqui,[150]Dost Muhammad Mazari,[151]Hisham Inamullah Khan,[152]Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah,[153]Usman Khan Tarakai,[154]Mahmood Moulvi.[155] andShireen Mazari.[156]
AfterImran Khan’s arrest, the PTI was left without leadership to officially head in the2024 elections, with most of the leadership such as the chairman Imran Khan and vice chairmanShah Mehmood Qureshi imprisoned. With this,Gohar Ali Khan was elected as chairman, andOmar Ayub Khan was chosen as candidate for Prime minister on behalf of the PTI, although the new leadership was considered a “babysitting arrangement” by some and Imran Khan remained as a symbolic leader for the party. Khan does not hold the position of official chairman due to his current state in theAdiala Prison.[37][157][158]
On 20 February 2024, PTI announcedpolitical alliance with theSunni Ittehad Council (SIC) andMajlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM),[159] in a bid to claim its share of reserved seats in the national, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.[160] Both the leaders said their alliance with the PTI is "unconditional".[76]
The PTI's goal is to transform Pakistan into an "Islamicwelfare state" that creates an equal society based onMedina state (Riyasat-e-Madinah).[161] PTI plans to develop poverty reduction programmes, promote diverse livelihood options, improve the healthcare system, and improve educational system reforms.[161]
The PTI proposed civilian control ofPakistan's military. TheInter-Services Intelligence service would report directly to thePrime Minister of Pakistan, and the defence budget would be audited by the government. Imran Khan also pledged to resign should any terrorism take place from Pakistani soil following these reforms.[162][163][164] PTI organised a protest againstdrone attacks in Pakistan on 23 November 2013 atPeshawar, where it called on the federal government to force an end to U.S.CIA drone attacks and to blockNATO supplies through the country to Afghanistan. "We will put pressure on America, and our protest will continue if drone attacks are not stopped." The U.S. embassy declined to comment on the protest that also temporarily closed a route leading to one of two border crossings used for the shipments.[165]
The PTI also raised issue of religious tolerance and greater representation for minorities.[7] PTI promised to crack down on police brutality, restructure the civil service, reform the electoral system, allow for a truly independent judiciary, decentralise state power, and enforce laws which extend personal liberty.[28][166] On 20 February 2013 PTI launched[167] its 'Education Policy'[168] with plans to introduce a uniform education system with one curriculum in three languages for Urdu, English and regional languages for entire Pakistan in primary schools.[169] The PTI advocated the establishment ofSouth Punjab andGilgit Baltistan as formal provinces of Pakistan.[170][171]
In the 2018 election, Imran Khan promises to bring a "Naya Pakistan" (new Pakistan).[172] Following its rise to national government in Pakistan, the PTI backed off from certain commitments in its manifesto what was criticised by its opponents asU-turns.[173]Dawn has found that the progress on some promises is still stuck in its initial stages or has been marred with delays.[174]
The PTI hopes to have a relationship with the US that would be based on "self-dignity and respect"[175] and promised to stop allforeign aid to Pakistan.[163] Imran Khan, the leader of PTI claimed "having relations with US, Russia and China is in Pakistan's interest" and Pakistan's "future is tied up with Russia".[176][177] The PTI also promised to make theKashmir issue a top priority and would try and solve the issue permanently so that Pakistan no longer has any border or territorial disputes with any of its neighbours.[178]
The National Council serves as the governing body of the PTI. Its members include office bearers of provincial organizations, presidents of regional and district organizations, and five members nominated by various sectors such as women, youth, students, labour, farmers, minorities, lawyers, and overseas organizations. Additionally, advisors nominated by the chairman are part of the council. The National Council is responsible for electing central office-bearers.[28]
In March 2012,[179] PTI announced plans to conduct US-style intra-party elections, aiming to introduce local caucuses on district levels throughout the country.[180] As part of this process, aspiring candidates would engage in debates and undergo primaries to secure a party ticket for contesting Provincial Assembly or National Assembly seats. The elections commenced in October 2012 and concluded on 23 March 2013, culminating in the election of the National Council after an extensive electoral process involving over four million registered members.[181] With these elections, PTI became the first political party in Pakistan to conduct the largest intra-party election based on the general electoral base. On 2 December 2023, PTI held new intra-party elections,[182] which were invalidated byElection Commission of Pakistan. The party conducted another intra-party election on 3 March 2024.[183]
| Office | Incumbent | Term began |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Gohar Ali Khan | 3 March 2024 |
| Vice Chairman | Shah Mahmood Qureshi | 3 December 2011 |
| President | Parvez Elahi | 7 March 2023 |
| Senior Vice President | Vacant[b] | |
| Senior Vice President | ||
| Senior Vice President | ||
| Senior Vice President | ||
| Secretary General | Salman Akram Raja | 7 September 2024 |
| Deputy Secretary General | Vacant[b] | |
| Deputy Secretary General | ||
| Deputy Secretary General | ||
| Deputy Secretary General | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Joint Secretary | ||
| Central Information Secretary | Sheikh Waqas Akram[184] | 26 September 2024 |
Most of PTI's central leadership was elected. Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were elected on 20 March 2013.[185] The Secretary information, Secretary Finance, Secretary Social Media, Secretary Political Training, and Secretary Policy Planning are appointed by the chairman and confirmed by the CEC.[186]
| Designation | Name | Election Date |
|---|---|---|
| President of Punjab | Hammad Azhar[187] | 16 December 2023 |
| General Secretary of Punjab | 4 June 2022 | |
| President of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Junaid Akbar | 25 January 2025 |
| General Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Ali Asghar Khan | 3 March 2024 |
| President of Sindh | Haleem Adil Sheikh | 3 March 2024 |
| General Secretary of Sindh | Ali Palh | 3 March 2024 |
| President of Balochistan | Dawood Shah Kakar | 3 March 2024 |
| General Secretary of Balochistan |
In June 2014, a Central Tarbiyati Council was established, which is responsible for training party activists on ideology, election campaigns, and other organizational matters.[28]
| Designation | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| President | Kanwal Shauzab | [188] |
| Senior Vice President | Vacant[b] | |
| Vice President of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | ||
| Vice President of Balochistan | ||
| Vice President of Sindh | ||
| Vice President of Punjab | ||
| President of Central Punjab | Shahnaz Tariq | |
| General Secretary | Rubina Shaheen |
TheInsaf Student Federation (ISF) serves as the official student wing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[189]
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf established its youth wing aimed at addressing the concerns and challenges faced by individuals under the age of 40.[181]
On 18 March 2013, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced a policy for persons with disabilities (PWD) to raise awareness about the integration of persons with disabilities into society and work towards preventing certain avoidable disabilities through early diagnosis and medical treatment,[190][191] after which theKPK government led by PTI approved a budget of over Rs 59 Million initially to provide rehabilitation services to handicapped people at local hospitals near their areas.[192]
Insaf Research Wing (IRW) was established to conduct research aimed at finding solutions to issues in Pakistan. IRW was founded in 2009[193] for addressing issues within its area of expertise, covering socio-political, information technology, economics, energy, healthcare, corruption, foreign affairs, education, and environment sectors. It consists of nine committees.[194]
The IRW has since been replaced by the Insaf Research Team.[195]
PTI party membership may be suspended or cancelled for violations of party discipline. Typically, a show-cause notice is issued, and if the response is unsatisfactory, membership may be terminated.[196]
In 2016, basic membership ofMufti Abdul Qawi was suspended and later he was expelled after a controversy erupted overselfies he took with the modelQandeel Baloch.[197]
In 2018, party membership ofHamid Khan was suspended and a show cause notice was issued for "defaming and maligning" the party.[198]
In February 2021, a show-cause notice was issued to party memberLiaquat Ali Jatoi after he made allegations ofcorruption against the party leadership regarding the allocation ofSenate election tickets.[196] In March 2021,Aslam Abro andShahryar Shar were expelled from the party for violating party discipline, with their memberships subsequently canceled.[199] It was reported that both had accused the party leadership and voted against the party's candidates for Senate seats in Sindh.[200]
In October 2022,Faisal Vawda's party membership was terminated over his contentious press conference.[201]
In July 2023, PTI terminated the basic membership of twenty-two lawmakers and party members fromKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, including its formerChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Mahmood Khan.[202] These includedMuhammad Ishtiaq Urmar,Muhammad Iqbal Wazir,Muhib Ullah Khan,Syed Ghazi Ghazan Jamal,Aghaz Ikramullah Gandapur,Ahmed Hussain Shah,Ibrahim Khattak,Muhammad Deedar,Shafiq Afridi,Saleh Muhammad Khan,Zia Ullah Khan Bangash,Zahoor Shakir, Wilson Wazir,Iqbal Mian,Shah Faisal Khan,Shaukat Ali,Sher Akbar Khan, andNadeem Khayal.[202]
On 2 August 2023, PTI terminated basic party membership of twenty-two party leaders from South Punjab due to party policy violations, including its formerChief Minister of Punjab,Usman Buzdar.[203] These included Sardar Muhammad Khan Laghari, Syed Nadeem Zaman Shah, Ehtisham ul Haq Laleka, Prince Bahawal Khan Abbasi, Sabeen Gul, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar, Mian Shafi Muhammad, Syed Muhammad Asghar Shah, Mian Tariq Abdullah, Muhammad Akhtar Malik, Muhammad Afzal, Ehsanul Haq, Javed Akhtar Ansari, Saleem Akhtar Labar, Muhammad Zaheeruddin Khan Alizai, Farooq Azam Malik, Salman Khan Gadoka, Akram Kanu, Mohiyuddin Solangi, Makhdoom Afkarul Hassan, and Raja Muhammad Saleem.[203] On 3 August 2023, thirteen members of PTI were expelled due to violations of the party policy. These included Raja Riaz, Noor Alam Khan, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Nuzhat Pathan, Wajiha Qamar, Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Nawab Sher, Makhdoom Zada Syed Basit Ahmad Sultan, Afzal Khan Dhandla, Muhammad Abdul Ghafar Wattoo, Aamir Talal Gopang, and Ahmad Hussain Deharr.[204] On 8 August 2023,Dewan Sachanand was expelled from the PTI for violating party discipline when he voted forRana Ansar, a member of theMuttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P), to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly.[205]
In December 2024, Salman Ahmad, a long-term member of the party, was expelled for describingBushra Bibi as "corrupt and greedy".[206][207]
In February 2025, Imran Khan ordered the expulsion of lawmakerSher Afzal Marwat for repeated breaches of party discipline.[208][209] At a PTI rally in Swabi, Marwat made controversial remarks, which prompted multiple internal complaints and led to the revocation of his basic membership.[210] Previously, he was issued a show-cause notice for his comments againstSalman Akram Raja.[209]
 |  |  |  |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 1997 | Imran Khan | 314,820 | 1.61 | 0 / 237 |  | none | Extraparliamentary |
| 2002 | 242,472 | 0.83 | 1 / 342 |  1 | 10th | In opposition | |
| 2008 | Did not contest | ||||||
| 2013 | 7,679,954 | 16.92 | 35 / 342 | 35 | 3rd | In opposition | |
| 2018 | 16,903,702 | 31.92 | 149 / 342 | 114 | 1st | In government (till 11 April 2022) | |
| Opposition (from 11 April 2022) | |||||||
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seates | Position | +/– | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mohsin Aziz | - | 9 / 104 | 4th | 9 | In Opposition |
| 2018 | Azam Khan Swati Shibli Faraz Shahzad Waseem | - | 15 / 104 | 3rd | 6 | In Opposition |
| 2021 | Shahzad Waseem | – | 26 / 100 | 1st | 9 | In Government |
| 2024 | Shibli Faraz | – | 17 / 96 | 3rd |  10 | Opposition |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 2013 | Ghulam Sarwar Khan | 4,951,216 | 17.76 | 30 / 371 | 30 | 2nd | PML (N)majority |
| 2018 | Sardar Usman Buzdar | 11,141,139 | 33.65 | 179 / 371 | 149 | 1st | PTIcoalition (till 30 April 2022) |
| PML (N)coalition (from 30 April 2022 till 27 July 2022) | |||||||
| PTIcoalition (from 27 July 2022) | |||||||
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 2013 | Pervez Khattak | 1,039,719 | 19.31 | 61 / 124 | 61 | 1st | PTIcoalition |
| 2018 +2019(ex-FATA Elections) | Mahmood Khan | 2,314,387 | 35.32 | 94 / 145 | 33 | 1st | PTImajority |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 2013 | Khurrum Sher Zaman | 609,128 | 6.08% | 4 / 168 | 4 | 4th | PPPmajority |
| 2018 | Firdous Naqvi Haleem Adil Sheikh | 1,451,132 | 14.47% | 30 / 168 | 26 | 2nd | PPPmajority |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 2018 | Yar Muhammad Rind | 109,488 | 6.21 | 7 / 65 | 7 | 4th | BAPcoalition |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 2015 | Raja Jahanzeb | 42,101 | 11.11% | 1 / 33 | 1 | 3rd | PML (N) Majority |
| 2020 | Khalid Khurshid | – | – | 22 / 33 | 21 | 1st | PTI Majority |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | ± | ||||
| 2016 | Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry | 211,827 | 12.7% | 2 / 49 | 2 | 4th | PML (N) Majority |
| 2021 | Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi | 613,590 | 32.5% | 32 / 53 | 24 | 1st | PTI Majority |
| Electoral performance in theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa local elections (district seats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Election | Seats | Position | |
| # | ± | ||
| 2015[212] | 395 / 1,484 | | 1st |
Less than a year after its establishment, PTI participated in the1997 general elections. Imran Khan stood in seven constituencies across Pakistan but did not secure a majority in any.[213]
During the2002 general elections, party chairman Imran Khan won one seat from Mianwali. PTI garnered 0.8% of the popular vote.[214]
PTI openly boycotted thePakistani general election on 18 February 2008 because it believed that the election was fraudulent and fraught with irregularities.[40][215]
On 21 April 2013, Khan, the chairman of PTI, launched his campaign for the2013 elections fromLahore, where he addressed supporters atThe Mall, Lahore followed by prayers at theData Durbar Complex.[216][217] This was followed by large rallies inKarak andDera Ismail Khan.[218] He also announced that he would pull Pakistan out of the US-ledwar on terror and bring peace in the Pashtun tribal belt.[219] On 22 April 2013, Khan addressed different public meetings inMalakand,Lower Dir District andUpper Dir District, where he announced that PTI would introduce a uniform education system in which the children of rich and poor would have equal opportunities.[220]
On the same day, he spoke at a rally inRawalpindi'sConstituency NA-56, accompanied byShaikh Rasheed Ahmad.[221] On 23 April 2013, Khan addressed large rallies inRenala Khurd,Okara, and other parts ofSahiwal Division. He challengedPML-N PresidentNawaz Sharif to a live debate, a challenge which PML-N was quick to decline.[222] On 24 April, Khan addressed rallies inNankana Sahib District,Sheikhupura, andPattoki, where he announced that once in power, noparliamentarian would receive development funds as they are misused for achieving political gains.[223]
On 25 April 2013, Khan addressed political gatherings inSouth Punjab, including inPakpattan,Lodhran, andVehari.[224][225] On the following day, Khan continued his mass campaign in South Punjab. He addressed rallies atJalalpur Pirwala,Muzaffargarh,Mian Channu,Kabirwala, andKhanewal. He promised to end the system oftyranny and announced that once in power, he would enact laws allowing every village or town to elect its own Station House Officer, believing it would prevent corruption andpolice brutality. He also promised to eliminate the post ofPatwari and establish a computerised and professional land record system.[226][227]
Khan concluded his South Punjab campaign by addressing rallies atBahawalpur,Khanpur,Sadiqabad,Rahim Yar Khan, andRajanpur on 27 April. During the campaign, he collectively visited over 25 towns and cities, addressing dozens of rallies and corner meetings. He promised to hold accountable the killers behind theassassination of Benazir Bhutto and stated that the local government system is important for the prosperity of Pakistan.[228] On 28 April, Khan moved to central Punjab where he addressed large rallies inMandi Bahauddin,Hafizabad, andSargodha, promising to bring justice and equality to Pakistan.[229]
On 29 April 2013, Khan addressed rallies atMurree,Talagang,Chakwal,Taxila, andAttock.[230] On 30 April, Khan visited his hometown ofMianwali, where he addressed several rallies, criticizing the Bhuttos and Sharifs. He stated, 'You can't lead a revolution from behind bulletproof glass,' and claimed that he had conquered the fear of dying 17 years ago.[231] On 1 and 2 March, Khan addressed gatherings inSibi,Loralai,Zafarwal,Pasrur,Narowal,Jacobabad, and also led a car rally inRawalpindi.[232][233] On 3 May, Khan continued his campaign atBattagram,Mansehra,Torghar District,Abbottabad, andHaripur, followed by rallies atBuner District,Swabi,Charsadda,Mardan,Nowshera, andPeshawar on 4th, promising to abandon the war on terror.[234][235][236]
Pakistan's2013 elections took place on 11 May 2013 across the country. The elections resulted in a clear majority for thePakistan Muslim League (N), a strong rival of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, although PTI managed to surpass thePakistan Peoples Party as the main opposition to PML-N's candidates in the Punjab Province. PTI's popularity propelled 20 representatives to the Punjab Assembly.[237][238] PTI also emerged as the second-largest party inKarachi.[239]
According to unofficial results announced by Pakistani media and theElection Commission of Pakistan, Imran Khan, Chairman of PTI, won three of the four constituencies he contested, securing victories inConstituency NA-1,Constituency NA-56, andConstituency NA-71.[240] PTI won 31 directly elected parliamentary seats, marking a significant increase from the 2002 elections. Nationally, PTI became the third-largest party and the largest inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as the second-largest inPunjab.[241] In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI defeated all mainstream political parties across the province with mostly new candidates. It secured every seat inPeshawar,Nowshera, andMardan district. It is anticipated that PTI will lead acoalition government in the province. However, PTI failed to secure a majority in Punjab and made limited gains inSindh orBaluchistan. PTI obtained 34 out of 99 seats in theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.[242]
Apart fromKarachi,Sindh was largely overlooked by PTI during much of its election campaign, and this is reflected in the results. The party failed to field candidates in 19 out of Interior Sindh's 40 constituencies. Where it did field candidates, it struggled to surpass the 5% vote benchmark in 18 constituencies. In most of these constituencies, the number of votes received was in the hundreds. PTI's only significant showing in interior Sindh was in the constituencies ofNA-228Umerkot andNA-230Tharparkar, where the party's vice president,Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has a considerable following through his spiritual Ghousia Jamaat.[243]
In the northwestern province ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI formed a governing coalition with theJamaat-e-Islami andQaumi Watan parties in 2013. On 13 May 2013,Parvez Khattak was appointed as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[244] The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Development Advisory Committee includesAsad Umar,Jehangir Khan Tareen, Ali Asghar Khan, Khalid Mehsud, andRustam Shah Mohmand.[245][246][247]
Pakistan's2018 elections took place on 25 July 2018 nationwide. The elections saw the PTI secure a majority of seats in the National Assembly with 116 seats won. Adding 28 women and 5 Minority seats, the total tally reached 149.[248] With PTI securing the largest seat share and vote share, it formeda government at the centre in alliance withMuttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P),Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML (Q)),Balochistan Awami Party (BAP),Balochistan National Party (Mengal) (BNP-M),Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA),Awami Muslim League (Pakistan) (AML), andJamhoori Wattan Party (JWP).[249] Additionally, PTI secured government inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa with 78 seats,Punjab with 175 seats, and formed an alliance government inBalochistan. Following the elections,Imran Khan was elected as Prime Minister, receiving 176 votes againstShehbaz Sharif's 96 votes. PTI also succeeded in electing its Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly,Asad Qaiser andQasim Suri respectively. On 4 September 2018,Arif Alvi was elected as the 13thPresident of Pakistan.[250] PTI nominatedUsman Buzdar as Chief Minister of Punjab,[251]Mahmood Khan as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,[252] andJam Kamal Khan as Chief Minister of Balochistan.[253] The party also appointed governors:Chaudhry Sarwar as Governor of Punjab,Imran Ismail as Governor of Sindh,[254] andShah Farman as Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[255] Prime Minister Imran Khan formed his cabinet, with key positions like Minister of Finance entrusted toAsad Umar and Minister of Foreign Affairs toShah Mehmood Qureshi.[256]
Imran Khan was banned from contesting the2024 general election.[257] The PTI was banned from using its cricket bat icon and its candidates were forced to run as independents.[258][259]
In the week before the elections, Khan was sentenced to jail terms in three separate cases. One of the rulings also barred Khan from holding public office for 10 years.[260][261][262] Some observers said the rulings were a continuation of the Pakistani military's engineering to keep Khan out of power in the election.[263][264][265]
Allegations of rigging in the 2024 Pakistani general election were widespread. Apart from Khan, most of PTI's leadership includingShah Mahmood Qureshi,Yasmin Rashid,Ejaz Chaudhary,Aliya Hamza Malik,Omer Sarfraz Cheema,Mehmood-ur-Rasheed,Parvez Elahi and other PTI seniors were imprisoned in the run-up to the elections.[266] With most of PTI's leadership arrested, in hiding likeMurad Saeed,[267]Mian Aslam Iqbal andHammad Azhar[268] or leaving and creating their own new parties likeJahangir Tareen,Aleem Khan andPervez Khattak, PTI was left with little leadership to run in the elections. As a result,Gohar Ali Khan was made PTI chairman,Shibli Faraz was made PTI head in the Senate andOmar Ayub Khan was made candidate for Prime Minister. PTI and observers have claimed it has found evidence of pre-poll rigging.[269] Many PTI leaders were forced to have their relatives run in the elections due to an alleged crackdown, includingParvez Elahi's wife Qaisara Elahi running[270] andUsman Dar's mother Rehana Dar running.[271] Imran Khan was jailed for the duration of the election. Due to an alleged crackdown, PTI was unable to campaign for the elections.[272]
The election took place on 8 February 2024 across the country. Despite having to undergo strict measures, PTI won the largest vote share and second largest seat share. PTI claims it won the elections in Punjab and nationwide and claims several vote numbers throughout Pakistan were changed by theECP to decrease vote amounts for PTI.[273] The largest PTI claims over a constituency have occurred overNA-130 Lahore-XIV, which PTI claims that jailed PTI seniorYasmin Rashid won against 3-time former Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif.[274] PTI claims it won a total of 180 National Assembly seats in comparison to the 93 seats it officially won.[275] PTI had also pushed forward claims thatKhawaja Asif lost his seat in an overwhelming defeat to Rehana Dar inNA-71 Sialkot-II,[271] as well as that PTI candidateSalman Akram Raja won the seatNA-128 Lahore-XII by a large majority, but the seat was rigged in favor ofIPP among other pre-poll and after-poll rigging allegations.[276] In total, PTI was able to form a large majority government inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa underAli Amin Gandapur and was able to become the single largest party in the National Assembly,[277] while being the largest opposition party inPunjab.
As a result of the election, PTI backed candidates formed the largest group in the new parliament but did not constitute a simple majority. Khan declined to forge alliances with other parties to establish a coalition government and instead opted to assume an opposition role in parliament.[258] As a result a coalition government was formed byShehbaz Sharif andPML-N.[278]
| Provincial assembly | Seats | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In government | Single largest party | Majority/coalition | ||
| AJK Legislative Assembly | 19 / 53 | No | Yes | Opposition |
| Provincial Assembly of Balochistan | 0 / 65 | — | — | No presence |
| Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly | 22 / 33 | Yes | Yes | Majority |
| Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 58 / 145 | Yes | Yes | Majority |
| Provincial Assembly of Punjab | 29 / 371 | No | No | Opposition |
| Provincial Assembly of Sindh | 6 / 168 | No | No | In Opposition |
In the northwestern province ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI has ruled with amajority government three times. PTI ruled from 2013 to 2018 under thePervez Khattak administration, from 2018 to 2023 under Chief MinisterMahmood Khan and from 2024 to the present under theGandapur ministry.[279]
In the2024 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial election, Independent candidates allied with PTI won 86 seats.[280] Subsequently,Ali Amin Gandapur was elected asChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on PTI's behalf. Out of these 86 seats, 58 are officially recognized as PTI members by theSupreme Court of Pakistan andElection Commission of Pakistan,[281] while the remaining seats are officially Independents.[280]
In Pakistan’s most populous province,Punjab, PTI has served as the largest opposition party twice and the ruling majority party once. From 2013 to 2018, PTI served as the largest opposition party with 30 seats and had PTI leaderMehmood-ur-Rasheed as opposition leader.[282] From 2018 to 2022 PTI served as the largest and ruling party in Punjab, withUsman Buzdar asChief Minister of Punjab. From 2024 to the present PTI is serving as the opposition party in the Punjab Assembly.
In the2024 Punjab provincial election, Independent candidates allied with PTI won the second-most seats, though the party claims it won the first-most seats without rigging.[283] Out of this, 29 have been recognized as PTI members by theSupreme Court of Pakistan andElection Commission of Pakistan,[281] while the remaining seats are officially recognized as members of theSunni Ittehad Council. PTI nominatedMian Aslam Iqbal for Opposition Leader but has been replaced byMalik Ahmad Khan Bhachar temporarily due to threats of an arrest to Iqbal.[284]
In the southern province ofSindh, PTI has been the largest opposition party once, from 2018 to 2022, withFirdous Shamim Naqvi andHaleem Adil Sheikh as Leader of the Opposition in theProvincial Assembly of Sindh.[285][286] PTI is currently serving as an opposition party in Sindh since 2024 after PTI-backed members won 10 seats. Out of these, 6 are recognized as PTI and 4 are recognized as members of theSunni Ittehad Council.[287] PTI has alleged that 38 Sindh Assembly seats, many of which are inKarachi were rigged in the2024 Sindh provincial election against it, in favor ofMQM-P andPPP.[288]
PTI has been found to win most of its seats inKarachi.[289] It also holds a political alliance with theGrand Democratic Alliance (GDA) against PPP.[290][291]
Imran Khan was arrested due to the case, and Pakistani court rejected a petition by PTI.[292]
PTI launched its first dharna on 14 August 2014. The party was involved in laying siege and paralyzing the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, to stop the Government from functioning. PTI was charged with targeting Pakistan Television and parliament, as well as law enforcement.[293][294][295] The party founder, Imran Khan, burned his utility bills to encourage participants to join his protest against rising electricity prices.[296]
PTI's former leader and head of the party's election tribunal investigated corruption and fraud, as well as internal election rigging within PTI. His tribunal expelled Secretary-General Jahangir Tareen, PTI's KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, and senior leader Nadir Laghari for manipulating intra-party polls. It also reported fraud in party funds.[297][298][299] Later, Wajihuddin was expelled from the party by Imran Khan.[300]
PTI supporters have been reported to have attacked media personnel during their protest demonstrations.[301] Several female journalists have reported harassment by party workers.[302][303] The harassment of women has also been reported at PTI's gatherings.[304][305]
During PTI's public protests,Geo News DSNGs had to remove their stickers to escape vandalism by party workers.[306][307][308] PTI workers also attacked the Geo News Islamabad office.[309]
PTI's former president, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, has alleged that Imran Khan was conspiring with theChief Justice of Pakistan,Nasirul Mulk. to dissolve the government of Nawaz Sharif.[310]
Following the arrest of Imran Khan on 9 May 2023, the supporters and workers of PTI allegedly targetedPakistan Army's installations.[311] The protesters broke into the regional commander's house inLahore and burned the building. They also attempted to enterGHQ's gate inRawalpindi. InPeshawar, the building ofRadio Pakistan was set on fire by the protesters, who also shouted slogans against the army and military officials. However, Imran Khan and his party denied their involvement in the violence and accused secret agencies of framing the party for anti-army violence.[312][313][314]
Reportedly, thousands of PTI workers have been arrested due to their alleged involvement in violent attacks on government institutions across the country after 9 May.[315][316]
In response to the attacks, the Pakistan Army called 9 May a dark chapter in the country's history and claimed that PTI "has done what enemies could not do in 75 years."[317] Meanwhile, PTI alleges that the incidents of 9 May were afalse flag operation designed by thePakistani establishment to disintegrate PTI and frame Imran Khan.[318]
..The PTI founder and the party's vice-chairman were sent..
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