PTI faces limits of defiance: Political goals changed from gaining power to getting relief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), during the last one year, has stepped back from its core demands of fresh general elections, change of government, and a thorough probe into alleged rigging in the 2024 elections.

The party’s new focus is squarely on securing relief for its incarcerated leadership — including former prime minister Imran Khan — and reclaiming political space in the hostile environment.

Party sources reveal that most PTI leaders now recognise the futility of direct confrontation with the powerful military establishment, which has historically played a decisive role in Pakistan’s political landscape.

Background discussions with senior PTI figures suggest a realisation i.e. the deep mistrust between Imran Khan and the establishment is beyond repair, and no behind-the-scenes deal appears capable of bridging that divide or facilitating Khan’s return from Adiala jail to the corridors of power.

“The best-case scenario for us right now,” a senior PTI leader admitted on condition of anonymity, “is not the return to power but a political survival strategy — some breathing room for the party, and fair elections by 2028.”

The party now views the continuation of the current “hybrid system” — a term often used to describe the establishment-dominated political framework — as a foregone conclusion. PTI’s attempts to dismantle or weaken this system, whether through public mobilisation, judicial pressure or appeals to the international community, have largely fallen flat. The judiciary, in the party’s assessment, has lost its impartiality, while foreign governments have chosen silence over intervention. PTI’s own popularity remains high in many parts of the country, especially among the youth and the urban middle class. However, leaders admit that this public support has failed to translate into political leverage due to what they now see as a miscalculated strategy of open confrontation with the military. Within the party ranks, a troubling question looms: even if a compromise is reached, will the establishment ever trust Imran Khan again? Yet, it is conceded that PTI without Khan is politically unthinkable.

What adds to PTI’s woes is that despite its stated desire for reconciliation, neither its founder nor the party’s aggressive social media wing has shown signs of softening rhetoric or adjusting tactics to mend relations with the establishment. Instead, the social media narrative remains combative, often fueling further alienation.

Looking ahead, PTI insiders say the party must adopt a pragmatic approach: secure short-term relief for its imprisoned leaders, regroup at the grassroots and prepare for the long game — the next general elections. Whether the party can transition from confrontation to coexistence remains to be seen.