WHERE will PTI’s political caravan eventually come to rest? This question has gained urgency following the recent letter from Kot Lakhpat Jail.
In reflecting on this, it is also necessary to consider PTI’s official stance. But what exactly is PTI’s confirmed official position? This question alone has the potential to cause unease. Not just PTI’s opponents, but even those within the party believe that it is deeply divided, a reality that frequently surfaces in public.
Despite these internal rifts, there remains one perception on which both PTI supporters and critics are entirely united: Imran Khan’s way of thinking. Even today, Imran Khan remains firmly rooted in the position he adopted after the successful vote of no-confidence that ousted him from power.
But what exactly is Imran Khan’s mindset? Direct access to it is nearly impossible. Therefore, we have to rely on the statements of the leadership he has installed in his place—or the words of those who remain in constant contact with him in jail, such as his respected sisters, especially Ms. Aleema Khan. However, there’s a difficulty here: these women’s public comments often lead to complications. Thus, the only reliable way to understand the party’s stance is to analyze its behavior.
Understanding PTI’s behaviour means examining its political positioning—its strategic approach that persists despite infighting and hostile rhetoric among party leaders. In practical terms, PTI’s verified stance is essentially whatever is communicated through its social media. That stance is one of complete rigidity toward the current government. Imran Khan has no room for dialogue with them. He seeks negotiations only with the faction he sees as the real centre of power: the establishment.
This is the position Imran Khan adopted after being ousted from office through the no-confidence motion. And despite the passage of time and countless developments, he has not budged. This, in a sense, is the definition of consistency. He has remained firmly committed to his stance, and for that steadfastness, he certainly deserves recognition.
But if Imran Khan is indeed consistent, then why do party leaders like Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Ejaz Chaudhry, Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Omar Sarfraz Cheema—currently imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat—feel the need to write him a letter? Especially considering that at least two of them—Dr. Yasmin and Omar Sarfraz Cheema—are known to place blind trust in Khan. Why, then, did they write this letter?
There is only one answer to this question: Consistency is admirable in politics, but flexibility in strategy is essential. Flexibility is like navigating a boat in a river, as poet Maahir-ul-Qadri beautifully put it: Jahaan jis ki zarurat thi wohi tadbeer ki too ne, Kabhi kashti ko junbish di, kabhi maujon ko thehraaya. (“You devised the strategy each moment demanded— At times you steered the boat, at times you stilled the waves.”)
The letter-writers seem to feel that this very issue—the lack of strategic flexibility—is both the party’s and its founder’s greatest weakness. Because of Imran Khan’s rigid approach, even the workers have become one-dimensional. In resisting their opponents, they failed to understand the difference between state and politics, and thus ended up doing things that have continuously harmed the party.
From the letter’s contents, it’s clear that these imprisoned leaders believe that Imran Khan does not fully grasp the extent of the damage being done—and that by pushing PTI toward constant confrontation, he has made its future uncertain. That is why, rather than presenting their views within internal party forums, they chose to write an open letter.
Such a step is only taken when no other option remains. Hence, it can be said—albeit cautiously—that this letter signals a lack of confidence in the party’s official position and in its originator. Details emerging from the parliamentary party’s meeting suggest that many in the party agree with the contents of the letter.
What will be the response from the opposing faction? That remains to be seen. But all indications are that Imran Khan will continue on his current path. If that happens, this letter could mark the first major rift within PTI.
—This writer is former advisor to the President of Pakistan, author & mass media theorist.
(farooq.adilbhuta@gmail,com)
