Imran Khan Urges PTI Leaders to Unite and Prioritize Movement

Download IPFS

On July 16, 2025, Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), called on party leaders to resolve internal disputes and focus on the ongoing “Free Imran Khan” movement, aimed at securing his release from Adiala Jail. Speaking through his sister Aleema Khan, he condemned efforts to sow discord within PTI, emphasizing unity as critical to challenging what he calls a repressive system. The directive follows tensions over a Lahore meeting, highlighting the party’s resolve to mobilize against the government.

Khan’s message, delivered after a July 14, 2025, gathering of 300 PTI parliamentarians in Lahore, addressed rifts sparked by disagreements over the movement’s timeline. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a 90-day “do-or-die” campaign, while PTI Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik pushed for an immediate August 5 protest, aligning with Khan’s two-year imprisonment anniversary. Hamza’s exclusion from the Lahore meeting and her critical post on X, stating, “Such busyness that perhaps even I wasn’t aware of!” drew a rebuke from PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who warned of disciplinary action. Khan, via Aleema, expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s turnout but warned, “Anyone who tries to create division in the party, I will deal with personally.”

The internal discord, exacerbated by limited access to Khan in jail, has fueled public spats, with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar urging leaders to resolve issues privately. “If any leader has a complaint, they should inform me directly,” Gohar said, emphasizing Khan’s call for a peaceful struggle. The movement, launched informally on July 13, aims to pressure Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, which PTI accuses of orchestrating Khan’s 2022 ouster with military backing. Gandapur, undeterred by arrests of party workers, vowed to escalate protests nationwide, challenging what he calls a “fascist regime.”

Khan’s leadership from behind bars remains a rallying point for PTI supporters, who view his imprisonment as politically motivated. As the August 5 deadline looms, the party faces a critical juncture to unify and sustain momentum, with Khan’s call for discipline signaling a determined push for justice and political reform.