Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf


Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a centrist Pakistani political party and current ruling party of Pakistan. PTI is a major political party along with PML-N and PPP and largest party in terms of representation in National Assembly as of 2018 Pakistani general election. With over 10 million members in Pakistan and abroad, it claims to be Pakistan's largest party by primary membership and among largest political parties in world.
Directly following its founding in 1996, the party had limited success. and Khan won a seat in the 2002 Pakistani general election. The party boycotted the 2008 election accusing fraudulent in procedure. In 2013 it emerged as major party with over 7.5 million votes, making it second in the number of votes and third in the number of seats won. PTI mobilised people in rallies over public distress on various issues and made significant gains in following elections. In 2018, it received 16.9 million votes, the largest for any political party in Pakistan till then. It formed government of Pakistan in coalition with 5 other parties for first time with Imran Khan as prime minister. As of 2020, the party is in government at the national level and governs the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. It is also a part of the coalition government in Balochistan and acts as the largest opposition party in Sindh.
Officially, party aims to create an Islamic welfare state and dismantling religious discrimination in Pakistan. The party terms itself an anti-status quo movement advocating egalitarian Islamic democracy. It claims to be the only non-dynastic party of mainstream Pakistani politics. The party has been criticised by its political opponents and analysts for its failures to address various economic and political issues and weakening economy. It has also faced backlash for its crackdown on opposition and attempts to curb media outlets and freedom of speech.

History

Formative years

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was founded by Imran Khan on 25 April 1996 in Lahore. Founded initially as a sociopolitical movement, in June 1996 the first Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was formed under the leadership of Imran Khan, including Naeemul Haque, Ahsan Rasheed, Hafeez Khan, Mowahid Hussain, Mahmood Awan and Nausherwan Burki as founding members. PTI began to grow slowly but did not achieve immediate popularity.

Expansion

In October 2002, Khan ran for office in the National Elections and became a member of parliament for Mianwali, his home town. Khan, however, remained deeply critical of the entire political order of Pakistan, which he deemed corrupt, inefficient, and morally bereft of any of the founding principles of Pakistan. In protest, Khan began a grassroots campaign to raise awareness about his political party.
After Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007 and Nawaz Sharif returned from self-exile in Saudi Arabia, pressure increased upon President Musharraf to hold democratic elections. PTI, in conjunction with many political parties, joined the All Parties Democratic Movement, which was opposed to further military rule. The general election in 2008 resulted in a PPP victory. This election was boycotted by PTI. A membership drive in November and December 2008 resulted in 150,000 people joining the party.

Ascent to power

PTI emerged as a major party in 2013 Pakistani general election. Public distress on various issues against government in following years, led PTI to emerge as single largest political party in 2018 Pakistani general election and subsequent formation of a coalition government.

Ideology and positions

The PTI hopes to have a relationship with the US that would be based on "self dignity and respect" and promised to stop all foreign aid to Pakistan. The PTI also raised issue of religious tolerance and greater representation for minorities. On 20 February 2013 PTI launched its 'Education Policy' with plans to introduce a uniform education system with one curriculum in three languages for Urdu, English and regional languages for entire Pakistan in primary schools. PTI promised to crack down on police brutality, restructure the civil service, reform the electoral system, allow for a truly independent judiciary, decentralise state power, and enforce laws which extend personal liberty. The PTI proposed civilian control of Pakistan's military. The Inter-Services Intelligence service would report directly to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the defence budget would be audited by the government. Imran Khan also pledged to resign should any terrorism take place from Pakistani soil following these reforms. PTI organised a protest against drone attacks in Pakistan on 23 November 2013 at Peshawar, where it called on the federal government to force an end to U.S. CIA drone attacks and to block NATO supplies through the country to Afghanistan. "We will put pressure on America, and our protest will continue if drone attacks are not stopped." The U.S. embassy declined to comment on the protest that also temporarily closed a route leading to one of two border crossings used for the shipments. The PTI also promised to make Kashmir issue a top priority and would try and solve the issue permanently so that Pakistan no longer has any border or territorial disputes with any of its neighbours.

Organization and structure

Administration

The National Council is the PTI governing body. Its members are:
The National Council elects central office bearers.
;Intra-party elections
In March 2012, PTI announced to hold US-style intra-party election, according to a press briefing the US-style candidate nomination and ticket-awarding process, PTI would aim to introduce local caucuses on district levels throughout the country. Aspiring candidates would undertake debates and undergo primaries to win a party ticket for contesting on Provincial Assembly or National Assembly seats. The elections were held from October 2012 and ended on 23 March 2013 where the party finally elected the National Council after a long drawn electoral process with over four million registered members for their electoral college. With these elections PTI has become Pakistan's first political party to hold the largest intra party election from the general electoral base.
;Central functions
OfficeIncumbentTerm Began
ChairmanImran Khan23 March 2013
Vice-ChairmanShah Mehmood Qureshi23 March 2013
Secretary GeneralArshad Daad1 October 2018
Deputy Secretary GeneralSaifullah Niazi23 March 2013
Chief of Staff of ChairmanNaeem ul Haque23 March 2013
Campaign ManagerAsad Umar23 March 2013
Additional Secretary of InformationFaisal Javed Khan5 April 2015
Secretary of Overseas PakistanisVacant23 March 2013
Secretary of Commerce & IndustryFirdous Shamim Naqvi23 March 2013
Secretary of EducationMoazzam Ali Athar23 March 2013
Secretary of HealthDr. Mohammad Hanif23 March 2013
Secretary of Foreign AffairsAbrar-ul-Haq23 March 2013
Secretary of Defence AffairsSamson Simon Sharaf23 March 2013
Secretary of Internal AffairsUsman ur Rehman Chohan23 March 2013
Secretary of LawSalman Hamid Afridi23 March 2013
Secretary of CultureAkhtar Nawaz23 March 2013
Secretary of Religious AffairsSaad Khursheed Khan23 March 2013
Secretary of MinoritiesDr. Sawaran Singh23 March 2013
Secretary of LabourMohammad Iqbal23 March 2013
Secretary of PublicityRao Rahat Ali Khan23 March 2013
Secretary of Public WelfareSyed Aftab Shah23 March 2013

Most of PTI's central leadership was elected, Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were elected on 20 March 2013. The Secretary information, Secretary Finance, Secretary Social Media, Secretary Political Training, and Secretary Policy Planning are appointed by the chairman and confirmed by the CEC. The Executive Committee consists of the Central Office bearers and thirty-members to be nominated by the chairman from amongst the members of the National Council.
;Provincial Council
The elected Provincial Council was finalised on 18 March 2013 for a 4-year term by the various districts of each province it is as follows Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
DesignationName
President of PunjabEjaz Ahmed Chaudhary
General Secretary of PunjabProfessor Dr. Yasmin Rashid
President of Khyber PakhtunkhwaAzam Khan Swati
General Secretary of Khyber PakhtunkhwaShaukat Ali Yousafzai
President of SindhAmeer Bux Bhutto
General Secretary of SindhHaleem Adil Sheikh
President of BalochistanYar Muhammad Rind
General Secretary of BalochistanQasim Suri

Party wings

;Central Tarbiyati Council
In June 2014 a Central Tarbiyati Council was created whose convener is Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Incharge for Curriculum Development Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi, Incharge Material Production Khawar Shamsul Hasan, Incharge Implementation and Monitoring Col Ejaz Minhas. The Tarbiyati Council will be responsible to train party activists on ideology, election campaign and other organizational matters.
;PTI Women Wing
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has a dedicated central wing for women, led by Nausheen Hamid as its elected President and Seemi Ezdi as its elected general secretary. PTI strongly declares its recognition of the rightis of women, and undertakes to promote and implement policies that protect women from all strata of society, especially the middle and working classes, recognising urban and rural as equal citizens and encouraging the participation of women in national and political life. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf strongly believes in representation of women at all decision-making levels.
DesignationName
PresidentDr Nausheen Hamid
Senior Vice PresidentSaudia Agha
Vice President of Khyber PakhtunkhwaNeelum Toru
Vice President of BalochistanFehmida Jamali
Vice President of SindhKanwal Ejaz Randhawa
Vice President of PunjabNasrin Tariq
Secretary GeneralSenator Seemi Ezdi

;Insaf Student Federation
The Insaf Student Federation is the official student wing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. ISF is present in all provinces of Pakistan. ISF has been celebrated as the best student organisation of any political party in Pakistan. Glorified for its activism and political prowess, ISF has held many protests and rallies in all parts of Pakistan to create awareness about different issues.
;Insaf Youth Wing
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has a youth wing for people under the age of 40 to help bring attention to their issues and problems. PTI Youth Wing is led by Ali Abbas Bukhari as the elected President.
;People with disabilities
On 18 March 2013 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf became the first political party in Pakistan to announce a comprehensive policy for persons with disabilities. In its vision PTI would like to ensure the rights of disabled people and they be provided with enough opportunities to play their vital role in society. The party strongly believes in the implementation the 1991 ordinance which ensured a special quota for persons with disabilities. PTI will acknowledge, facilitate and empower all PWDs enabling them to lead independent and self-fulfilling lives. PTI will also raise awareness about integration of persons with disabilities into society would work towards the prevention of certain avoidable disabilities through early diagnosis and medical treatment. Fulfilling its commitment to persons with disabilities, the KPK government led by the PTI has approved a budget of over Rs 59 Million initially to help provide rehabilitation services to handicapped people at the local hospital near to their area, it is initially slated to be launched in all 25 districts of the province but will expand further with additional budgetary provisions.
;Insaf Research Wing
Insaf Research Wing was a part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf created to carry out research to find solutions for problems in Pakistan. IRW was created in 2009 to carry out research to find solutions for problems in Pakistan. The foremost goal of IRW was to keep people of Pakistan and PTI informed and prepared. The wing was composed of 9 committees. Each committee addressed issues related to its field of expertise, which included socio-political, information & technology, economics, energy, healthcare, corruption, foreign affairs, education & environment. The research reports/papers were either commissioned by the central executive committee of PTI or committee members of IRW. The IRW did not follow a preset ideology while carrying out research, nor did it endorse any opinion presented in a published report/paper as an official position. Any published document by the wing did not constitute it as an official position of PTI unless otherwise stated. IRW operated at a national level but its members were located throughout the world bringing in the much needed international experience. IRW practiced an open membership policy valid for all Pakistanis regardless of religion or race.
The IRW has since been replaced by the Insaf Research Team.

Electoral performance

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf contested the general elections of 1997, 2002, 2013 and 2018. It boycotted the 2008 general elections.

Local Bodies

1997 and 2002 general elections

Less than a year after its founding, PTI contested the 1997 general elections. Imran Khan stood in seven constituencies across Pakistan but did not win a majority in any.
In the 2002 general elections, party chairman Imran Khan won one seat from Mianwali. PTI secured 0.8% of the popular vote.

2008 general elections

PTI openly boycotted the Pakistani general election on 18 February 2008 because it believed that the election was fraudulent and laced with irregularities.

2013 general elections

On 21 April 2013 Khan, the chairman of PTI, launched his campaign for the 2013 elections from Lahore where he addressed supporters at The Mall, Lahore followed by prayers at the Data Durbar Complex. which was followed by large rallies in Karak and Dera Ismail Khan. He also announced that he would pull Pakistan out of the US-led war on terror and bring peace in the Pashtun tribal belt. On 22 April 2013 Khan addressed different public meetings in Malakand, Lower Dir District and Upper Dir District where he announced that PTI will introduce a uniform education system in which the children of rich and poor will have equal opportunities.
On the same day he spoke at a rally in Rawalpindi's Constituency NA-56 accompanied by Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad. On 23 April 2013 Khan addressed large rallies in Renala Khurd, Okara and other parts of Sahiwal Division. He challenged PML-N President Nawaz Sharif to a live debate, a challenge which PML-N was quick to decline. On 24 April, Khan addressed rallies Nankana Sahib District, Sheikhupura and Pattoki where he announced that once he comes to power no parliamentarian will receive development funds as they are misused for achieving political gains.
On 25 April 2013 Khan addressed political gatherings in South Punjab including in Pakpattan, Lodhran and Vehari. On the following day Khan continued his mass campaign in South Punjab, he addressed rallies at Jalalpur Pirwala, Muzaffargarh, Mian Channu, Kabirwala and Khanewal where he promised to end the system of tyranny and announced that once in power he will make law which will allow every village or town to elect its own Station House Officer which he believes will prevent corruption and police brutality, he also promised to eliminate the post of Patwari and make a computerised and professional land record system.
Khan ended his south Punjab campaign by addressing rallies at Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur on 27 April. During the campaign he collectively visited over 25 towns and cities and addressed dozens of rallies and corner meetings, at the end he promised to hang the killers behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto he also said that the local government system is important for prosperity of Pakistan. On 28 April, Khan moved to central Punjab where he addressed large rallies at Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Sargodha while promising people to bring justice and equality to Pakistan.
On 29 April 2013 Khan addressed rallies at Murree, Talagang, Chakwal, Taxila and Attock. On 30 April, Khan visited his home town of Mianwali where he addressed several rallies, he lashed out on Bhutto's and Sharif's. He is quoted to say 'You can't lead revolution from behind bulletproof glass' he also claimed that he had conquered fear of dying 17 years ago. On 1 and 2 March, Khan addressed gatherings in Sibi, Loralai, Zafarwal, Pasrur, Narowal, Jacobabad and also led a car rally in Rawalpindi. On 3 May Khan continued his campaign at Battagram, Mansehra, Torghar District, Abbottabad and Haripur, followed by rallies at Buner District, Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar on 4th while promising to abandon war on terror.

2013 general election results

Pakistan's 2013 elections were held on 11 May 2013 throughout the country. The elections resulted in a clear majority of the Pakistan Muslim League, a strong rival of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but it did managed to take over the Pakistan Peoples Party as the main opposition to PML-N's candidates in the Punjab Province where the parties popularity was able to push 20 representatives to the Punjab Assembly. PTI also emerged as the second largest party in Karachi.
While according to non-official results announced by Pakistani media and the Election Commission of Pakistan. Imran Khan, Chairman of PTI won three of the four constituencies he contested winning from Constituency NA-1, Constituency NA-56 and Constituency NA-71. While Khan's party PTI won 31 directly elected parliamentary seats which is more than 300 percent more than it got in 2002 elections. PTI was third largest party nationally as well as being the largest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and second largest in Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI defeated all mainstream political parties across the province with mostly new candidates. It also won every seat in Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan district, it is expected that PTI will lead a coalition government in the province. PTI couldn't manage to win a majority in Punjab but made some wins while barely managed to make any inroads in Sindh or Baluchistan. PTI got 34 out of 99 seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

According to the polling data available, PTI performed considerably well in Central and Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while it ceded ground to Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema in Northern Pakhtunkhwa.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa proper, the party failed to get more than 5% of the polled vote in only one constituency, NA-22 Battagram. The party also didn't fare well in FATA which borders the Pakhtunkhwa province. Here PTI won only one constituency, NA-47, out of 12 while failing to win more than 5% of the vote in 3 constituencies NA-36, NA-37, NA-41.

Punjab

In Punjab, the party performed the best in the North and the South, where its largest share of seats came from. It managed to win more than 5% of the vote in all constituencies of Northern Punjab. While in Southern Punjab its support was mainly concentrated in Multan along with a belt of districts surrounding it, which include Khanewal, Vehari and Pakpattan. Its performance was lackluster in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar, and Muzaffargarh.
PTI's performance in Central Punjab was limited to gains in the districts of Mianwali, Lahore, Sahiwal, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Faisalabad. Mianwali district, from where the party's leader, Imran Khan belongs, saw the highest votes polled in the favor of PTI in Punjab at an average of 59.85% in the district's two constituencies. Among other major districts, it performed the worst in Jhang and Sargodha. In Sargodha it failed to win more than 5% of the vote in 3 out of 5 constituencies, while in Jhang the party failed to field candidates in 3 out of 6 constituencies and got more than 5% vote in only one constituency, NA-86. Hafizabad, Bhakkar and Gujranwala were other weak showings of PTI in Central Punjab.

Sindh

Apart from Karachi, Sindh was mainly neglected by PTI during much of its election campaign and it shows in the results. The party failed to field its candidates in 19 out of Interior Sindh's 40 constituencies. Where it did field its candidates, it failed to clear the 5% vote benchmark in 18 constituencies. In most such constituencies, the order of the votes was in the hundreds. PTI's only strong showing in interior Sindh was in the constituencies of NA-228 Umerkot and, NA-230 Tharparkar where, the party's vice president, Shah Mehmood Qureshi's spiritual Ghousia Jamaat has a considerable following.
In Karachi, PTI bagged an average of 20.37% across 18 of 20 constituencies it participated in. The constituency NA-250 of Karachi recorded the highest percentage of votes polled in the favor of PTI at 61.38%.

Balochistan

In Balochistan, the situation was similar to that of interior Sindh. PTI failed to field its candidates in 4 out of the province's 13 constituencies. Further on, it didn't receive more than 5% of the vote in 7 of the remaining 9. Votes in most of these cases were mere hundreds. It performed relatively well in NA-259 of Quetta proper and NA-265 Sibi where the party got 14.83% and 6.99% of the vote respectively.

2018 general elections

Pakistan's 2018 elections were held on 25 July 2018 throughout the country. The elections resulted in a clear majority of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in National assembly with 116 won seats. After 28 women and 5 Minority seats the total number of seats reached 149. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf obtained 0.16 million votes with 31.82% of total cast votes, hence forming a government in the center with the alliance of MQM-P, PML, BAP, BNP-M, GDA, AML and JWP. PTI also formed government in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by having 78 seats, Punjab by having 175 seats and a government of alliance in Balochistan. Following Elections Imran Khan was elected as Prime minister obtaining 176 against Mian M. Shehbaz Sharif who obtained 96 votes. PTI was also successful in electing its Speaker and deputy speaker national assembly, Asad Qaiser and Qasim Suri respectively. On 4 September 2018, Arif Alvi got elected as 13th President of Pakistan. PTI nominated Usman Ahmad Khan Buzdar as C.M. Punjab, Mahmood Khan as C.M. KPK and Jam Kamal Khan as C.M. Balochistan. The party also appointed its governors ; Muhammad Sarwar as Governor of Punjab, Pakistan, Imran Ismail as Governor of Sindh and Shah Farman as Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan appointed his cabinet with key appointments of Minister of Finance given to Asad Umar and Minister of Foreign Affairs to Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Presence across provincial assemblies

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In the northwestern province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the PTI formed a governing coalition with the Jamaat-e-Islami and Qaumi Watan parties. On 13 May 2013, Parvez Khattak was appointed Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Development Advisory Committee includes Asad Umar, Jehangir Khan Tareen, Ali Asghar Khan, Khalid Mehsud and Rustam Shah Mohmand. There are 15 ministers selected from the coalition govt to form the cabinet for Chief Minister Parvez Khattak.

Controversies

The party since 2013 elections has been involved in several controversies.

Plot to overthrow federal government and civil disobedience

PTI launched its first dharna on 14 August 2014. The party was involved in laying siege and paralyzing capital of Pakistan, Islamabad in an effort to stop the Government from functioning. PTi has been charged in attacking Pakistan television and parliament and also attacking law enforcement. The city was kept paralyzed for three months before the party decided to call off the protest.
The party founder Imran Khan burned his utility bills in order to incite the participants into civil disobedience.

Justice Wajihuddin tribunal

PTi former leader and in charge for party election tribunal to investigate the corruption and fraud and PTI's internal election rigging. His tribunal expelled Secretary general Jahangir Tareen, PTI's KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and senior leader Nadir Laghari after for manipulating intro-party polls and also reported frauds in party funds.
Wajihuddin was later expelled from the party by Imran Khan.

Media attacks and women harassment

PTI has been reported to have attacked media persons during their protest demos. Several female journalists have reported harassment by the party workers. The harassment of women has also been reported in PTI's gatherings.
During PTI's public protests, Geo News DSNG's had to remove their stickers in order to escape party workers' vandalism. PTI workers also attacked Geo News Islamabad office.

Allegations of conspiracy to dissolve government using judiciary

PTI's ex president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi has alleged that Imran Khan was conspiring to dissolve the government with the Supreme court's chief justice Nasirul Mulk.