FORTUNE does not seem to be favouring the PTI — at least not yet. With the party’s founder confined from public view and unable to interact with his deputies and the party’s rank and file growing increasingly paranoid about the circumstances of his incarceration, the PTI seems to be undergoing another round of internal upheaval. One wonders what has changed, and also how this period of turbulence might end. For context, it has lately become quite difficult for PTI office holders to confer with Imran Khan, and there has been a fair bit of discontent over who draws up his guest lists, who approves them, and why. Interestingly, in recent days, several PTI leaders who are perceived within the party to be advocates of a more conciliatory stance towards the security establishment have managed to secure long meetings with the former prime minister. At the same time, several other leaders — who were, at least till recently, being seen as loyal and dedicated to the PTI’s vision and cause — have been denied an audience. Naturally, this has gotten tongues a-wagging, and word is that Mr Khan is again unhappy with the people he entrusted with various tasks.

One must, of course, take such speculation with a healthy pinch of salt. There are many stakeholders with a strong interest in influencing the narratives around the PTI and its jailed leader, including some within the party. Nevertheless, it must still be exasperating for the party’s ordinary supporters to see their top leaders behaving as erratically as they have in the past. Even though there are now few doubts regarding the PTI’s resilience, the party leadership’s constant internal bickering and backstabbing have discouraged much confidence in the party’s health. From first impressions, it appears that the PTI remains beholden to a few individuals and cannot function smoothly in their absence. More concerningly, no one within the party or its supporters seems to want this to change. No doubt, the same can be said about most other political parties in Pakistan. However, the PTI presents itself as the only solution to Pakistan’s myriad problems. One would expect, as a corollary, that its leaders would demonstrate the same stability and maturity that they continue to promise to the nation. However, they keep falling short in practical application. Clearly, the party must set its house in order first.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025