In a major development, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman and incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has announced his decision to assume the role of patron-in-chief of the party, just ahead of a planned nationwide protest movement.
The announcement was made by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan during a media talk outside Adiala Jail after meeting Khan. He stated that Imran Khan would lead the protest campaign from behind bars, with all instructions conveyed through opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan.
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Last week, Imran Khan had urged the public to gear up for a countrywide protest in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, though PTI has not disclosed who manages his social media in his absence. The call for protest came a day after his sister Aleema Khan proposed a “give-and-take formula” for his possible release.
Barrister Gohar dismissed reports suggesting his removal as party chairman, clarifying that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur would not lead the upcoming protests. Instead, various figures within the party would be assigned distinct responsibilities. He added that PTI remained open to dialogue with the establishment and had not closed the door on negotiations.
Explaining the significance of the new title, PTI strategist Raoof Hasan noted that “founding chairman” gave the impression that Imran Khan was no longer active. The role of patron-in-chief, he said, reflects Khan’s continued authority and leadership, especially as he is set to spearhead the protest drive. Hasan also warned that following this move, authorities may impose further restrictions or isolate Khan.
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Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser supported the decision, citing legal obstacles preventing Khan from officially holding the party chairmanship. He likened the patron-in-chief role to that of a “Rehbar,” a symbolic leadership title also used in the past by political figures like Khan Abdul Wali Khan and Nawaz Sharif when disqualified from office.
Meanwhile, internal rifts within PTI continue to surface. Raoof Hasan denied that Imran Khan’s new role was meant to address possible party fragmentation. However, factional disputes have been evident over the past year — particularly around the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairmanship and leadership roles within PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter. Although Junaid Akbar was recently appointed head of the provincial chapter and nominated PAC chairman, Imran Khan initially asked him to step down from one role but later allowed him to retain both.
Despite these tensions, PTI maintains that Khan’s leadership remains central to the party’s direction and strategy — now more formally reaffirmed through his new position as patron-in-chief.