Recent protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) have exposed a critical challenge for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The party held three major demonstrations today, but surprisingly, the protest in Peshawar—despite being the provincial capital and political nerve center—appeared weak and ineffective compared to other cities.
The core reason seems to be the declining popularity of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Once seen as PTI’s aggressive and mobilizing face, he is now emerging as the party’s “Achilles Heel,” a vulnerability that risks undermining the entire protest narrative due to his internal controversies and fading public appeal.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s society is inherently egalitarian, where political momentum depends on public emotional engagement rather than imposed leadership. When a leader’s popularity declines, their ability to pull crowds diminishes—as clearly witnessed in today’s demonstrations.
This moment is a critical strategic test for PTI. KPK is the party’s primary stronghold, serving both as its political power base and its engine for nationwide protest energy. If leadership instability continues here, the ripple effects could weaken PTI’s entire protest framework.
The party must seriously re-evaluate its leadership, organization, and narrative in KPK to reignite its political energy. Otherwise, the very province that once empowered PTI’s movement could become a burden in the future.
