PTI Launches 90-Day Anti-Govt Campaign with ‘Do or Die’ Slogan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday launched a 90-day nationwide anti-government campaign demanding the release of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, calling it a “do or die” movement for the party’s political future.

The announcement came during a press conference held in Lahore, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Ameen Gandapur and senior PTI leaders. However, the event also exposed growing internal rifts in the party’s Punjab leadership, especially following the absence of PTI Punjab chief organizer Aliya Hamza.

Gandapur stated that the campaign aims to reclaim democratic space and resist what he labeled as a “fascist regime.” He declared that the movement would reach its climax by August 5, after which a new phase of protests would begin. He reiterated that Imran Khan remains open to talks, but only with those holding real power, stressing, “We will talk only to the decision-makers.”

The party’s legal grievances were also brought to the forefront, with accusations that court decisions involving Imran Khan and PTI workers were being deliberately delayed. Gandapur condemned the crackdown on PTI supporters post May 9, 2023, and criticized the establishment for its alleged role in engineering the party’s ouster through what he called fake elections and backdoor interference.

Adding to the controversy, Aliya Hamza distanced herself from the campaign, saying she was unaware of the meeting and had not been consulted. Her absence triggered widespread speculation of leadership disunity, especially after PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja claimed she was absent due to “other commitments.” Aliya responded sarcastically on social media, questioning the legitimacy of the 90-day plan.

The press conference, intended to project party unity and resolve, ended up highlighting an ongoing disconnect between PTI’s central and provincial leadership. Multiple senior figures from Punjab were also reportedly uninformed about the Lahore convention, raising questions about the internal decision-making process.

Gandapur continued his fiery criticism by targeting state institutions, accusing them of abandoning constitutional responsibilities and turning against political dissent. He also launched a personal attack on JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, challenging him to an electoral contest against his brother in Dera Ismail Khan, even offering to resign from politics if defeated.

The protest movement comes after months of failed negotiations between PTI and the government regarding the formation of a judicial commission to probe both the May 9 riots and the November 2024 Islamabad protest.

Since Imran Khan’s ouster in 2022 via a no-confidence vote, PTI has maintained a confrontational stance against the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the current coalition government led by PML-N. The current campaign is the latest escalation in the party’s ongoing resistance strategy.

In response to the visible divisions, Salman Akram Raja insisted that the party remains “united,” accusing outside forces of fueling the narrative of division. “This is not just about Imran Khan’s freedom,” he said, “it’s about reclaiming the soul of this nation and its institutions.”

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