Monitoring Desk: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has completely lost its political wisdom, vision, and decision-making ability. Today, the party’s strategy revolves solely around the personal directives of its chairman, Imran Khan, who, according to critics within the party, is himself acting as a “master slave” to the will of his wife.
These views have been echoed by several former PTI parliamentarians and influential candidates expected to contest upcoming by-elections. They revealed that Imran Khan Niazi has imposed a blanket ban on disqualified leaders fielding their family members in constituencies vacated due to convictions in the May 9 riots cases. Traditionally, these constituencies remain under the strong influence of the disqualified leaders’ families, but Khan has now arrogated to himself the power to decide which seats PTI will contest and which will remain uncontested.
Dissatisfied PTI politicians argue that such “illogical and politically suicidal decisions” are not Khan’s independent choices but rather the result of his wife’s influence. As a result, PTI’s politics has shrunk to revolve around Khan himself, his wife, and his sisters, sidelining all other stakeholders.
They further pointed to recent controversial decisions—such as PTI’s collective resignations from National Assembly Standing Committees, boycotting by-elections in Punjab while participating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and orchestrating anti-Pakistan protests abroad—as clear examples of a self-destructive approach. While these moves damage PTI’s public image and political strength, no one within the party dares to oppose Khan’s commands.
“All these are living examples that PTI, as an institution, no longer exists. It has become a group of slaves revolving around one person,” remarked a former senior PTI leader on condition of anonymity. She went on to say that Khan has silenced dissent, refuses to listen to his colleagues, and runs the party in an authoritarian fashion. “This behavior reflects not only his own submission but also the slavery he has imposed on the entire party,” she added.
According to her, the crisis Khan is facing today is the direct outcome of his flawed policies. Instead of insight, prudence, and public interest guiding PTI’s politics, the party has been reduced to blind obedience, personal loyalty, and a culture of slavery.
