Editorial
The responsibility of leading Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest movement should not fall on Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As the constitutional head of the provincial government, Gandapur’s role must remain focused on governance, public service delivery, and maintaining law and order in his province. In a federal democratic structure, blurring the lines between executive responsibilities and political agitation not only undermines good governance but also weakens the legitimacy of protest politics.
The central leadership of PTI — particularly party Chairman Gohar Ali Khan and General Secretary Salman Akram Raja — is constitutionally and politically mandated to spearhead any nationwide agitation or protest campaign. Political mobilization and street movements fall within the purview of party organizational structures, not elected government executives. It is the duty of PTI’s central and provincial organizations to plan, lead, and manage the logistics, messaging, and legal frameworks of any protest.
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Entrusting this responsibility to a serving chief minister reflects a confusion between state functions and party politics — a trend that has previously led to governance paralysis. The PTI leadership must ensure that elected office bearers focus on administrative duties while the political organization leads resistance movements. This distinction is critical for institutional integrity and democratic maturity.
At a time when the party seeks to challenge the legitimacy of the current federal setup and advocate for electoral reforms and justice, it is imperative that PTI presents a structured, law-abiding, and politically disciplined front. Assigning the right roles to the right people will not only enhance the movement’s credibility but also protect the constitutional sanctity of governance in Pakistan.
