Islamabad: Confusion and division have gripped Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s unexpected announcement of a 90-day protest timeline, replacing what was widely expected to be a singular demonstration on August 5—the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest.
At a press briefing over the weekend, Gandapur unveiled what he described as a “final push” in the party’s protest strategy, declaring that the campaign had already commenced and would culminate in a “decisive confrontation” within the next three months. The announcement caught several senior PTI leaders off guard, raising internal concerns and casting uncertainty over the much-anticipated August 5 gathering.
While Gandapur reiterated that the protest would remain political and peaceful, he did not clarify whether the August 5 demonstration would still go ahead as planned. “The next 90 days will determine the political future of the PTI,” he said. “If political measures fail to deliver results, we will reassess and announce our next course of action.”
His remarks—particularly his reference to a “do or die” scenario and criticism of conventional politics—triggered unease within PTI ranks. Senior leaders, including Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, were notably absent from the announcement, and Punjab PTI organizer Aliya Hamza Malik expressed her frustration in a social media post, sarcastically questioning the decision-making process and the apparent shift in strategy.
“What plan has been revealed for Imran Khan’s release?” Malik posted. “How and where will the protest movement start? Who changed August 5 to a 90-day roadmap? I myself don’t know where I was ‘busy’ for the past two days.”
Her remarks highlighted the lack of coordination and transparency within the party, prompting many PTI workers to voice their dissatisfaction with the unclear communication from leadership. With the originally planned August 5 protest only weeks away, many are now left wondering whether it has been delayed, diluted, or quietly abandoned.
As the PTI continues to grapple with internal dissent and an evolving political strategy, the next few weeks will be critical in determining not just the direction of the protest movement but also the cohesion and future of the party itself.
