The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Lahore ended abruptly on Saturday, with many top leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, failing to arrive before the 6 p.m. deadline. This delay was largely due to Gandapur leaving Peshawar at 11 a.m., despite the journey to Lahore typically taking just over six hours without any stops.
In addition to Gandapur’s late arrival, several other prominent PTI leaders were noticeably absent. This added to the overall underwhelming turnout, particularly since Punjab is not a stronghold for PTI, unlike KP. Consequently, expecting a large crowd was unrealistic.
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One attendee reported that business continued as usual in the surrounding areas, with no major disruptions. This further highlighted the lack of significant participation, likely disappointing PTI leadership. Another factor contributing to the low attendance is the absence of prominent PTI leaders from public engagement, especially with Imran Khan, the party’s main draw, no longer actively involved.
The event underscored PTI’s longstanding weakness: it was never developed as a structured political party but rather a one-man show centered around Imran Khan. Insiders claim Khan’s lack of trust in his party leadership led him to frequently contradict and nullify their decisions, undermining any coherent strategy. This has stunted the party’s development and its supporters’ ability to function as a mature political force.
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Khan’s repeated calls for a “Bangla Model” in Pakistan also seem disconnected from reality. Bangladesh’s movement was grassroots-driven, unlike Pakistan’s situation, which revolves around PTI’s internal issues. The moment for Khan to reassess his strategy has long passed, and the party now finds itself cornered, with much ground already lost.
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The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and tweets at @yasmeen_9
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Unfortunately, our mainstream political parties are either one-man show or one-family show.