Imran Khan Bans PTI Members from Publicizing Internal Disputes

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Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has directed party members to refrain from airing internal disputes publicly, emphasizing unity ahead of a planned protest movement against the government. The directive, issued on July 16, 2025, from Adiala Jail, follows growing tensions within PTI regarding a 90-day protest strategy.

Speaking through his family and legal team, Khan stressed party discipline, stating: “Publicly airing internal matters or individual concerns before the media is entirely unacceptable.” The order came in response to visible rifts within the party, particularly after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a 90-day “do-or-die” protest campaign, which conflicted with an earlier protest plan centered on August 5—marking the second anniversary of Khan’s incarceration.

PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza Malik publicly questioned the clarity of the 90-day plan, prompting PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja to warn that disciplinary action would be taken against members contradicting the party’s agreed timeline. “If anyone contradicts the founder’s timeline, I’ll deal with them,” Raja told reporters.

Khan’s directive reflects growing frustration with internal discord that threatens to undermine PTI’s broader push against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. PTI alleges the 2024 general elections were rigged and continues to demand electoral justice and Khan’s release. The party’s previous protests, including a major march in November 2024, have centered on these demands.

Rights observers and media analysts have raised concerns about the government’s crackdown on dissent, including reports of over two dozen pro-PTI YouTube channels being blocked. Critics argue that such actions signal a deepening intolerance of opposition voices, while PTI’s internal strife risks weakening its cause. “Discipline is key, or PTI risks imploding,” warned one political commentator.

Meanwhile, Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Qasim, based in the United Kingdom, are expected to join international protest efforts, adding global attention to the movement. However, analysts question whether PTI can sustain its momentum in the face of ongoing internal disputes and a government allegedly backed by military influence.

The ban on public airing of disputes marks an attempt to refocus PTI’s energy on its core demands. Whether this renewed call for discipline can unite the party and maintain pressure on the Sharif government remains to be seen.