ISLAMABAD:
Lahore is back on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s radar as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi plans a return to the province in a bid to revive the party’s fading political presence.
The proposed visit, following a planned trip to Kashmir on April 25 to mark PTI’s foundation day, is scheduled for May 1 and comes as part of a wider effort by the party to sustain mobilization across provinces.
The Lahore move marks Afridi’s second attempt in five months to activate the party in the politically critical province, after a previous visit in December 2025 faced administrative resistance, including restrictions on public engagements.
Afridi said he would first travel to Kashmir on April 25 on the occasion of PTI’s foundation day, followed by a visit to Lahore on May 1.
The announcement comes as the PTI continues to push its protest narrative despite earlier setbacks in Punjab, where party activities have faced operational and administrative constraints.
Within the party, the move is being framed as part of a wider political battle to maintain momentum across regions.
However, PTI’s provincial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appeared to be less on board with the plan.
PTI KP President Junaid Akbar said he was not aware of any concrete plan regarding the proposed Lahore trip, adding that his focus remains on organizational responsibilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the recent Mardan rally.
Junaid Akbar said that the Lahore visit was a part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s plan and added that he would be willing to take up any role assigned by the party leadership in this regard.
In contrast, PTI’s Central Deputy Secretary for Information, Shaukat Yousafzai, defended the move and stated that the purpose of the Lahore visit was to mobilise.
He stressed that the party should be allowed to carry out political activities freely, noting that Lahore is a part of Pakistan.
He reiterated that PTI remains committed to its political struggle despite ongoing challenges.
On the wider coordination front, it has been directed by Imran Khan that decisions related to the street movement or any political matter should be taken in consultation with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas.
However, Shaukat Yousafzai said that the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) alliance will independently decide whether to join the movement, indicating different attitudes among stakeholders.
‘No consultation’
Akhunzada Hussain Youafzai, spokesperson for the Grand Opposition Alliance, told The Express Pakinomist on Monday that no consultation was held with the alliance regarding Afridi’s announcement.
He said consultation means being taken in confidence before any decision is taken, adding that it cannot be called consultation if stakeholders are informed only after decisions are made public.
When asked if they would be willing to go to Lahore if formally invited, he revealed that TTAP was already planning to visit Lahore on May 1 on the invitation of Ammar Ali Jan’s Haqooq-e-Khalq Party.
He said the alliance was not aware of Afridi’s specific plan for that date and questioned what PTI’s actual program was.
He also indicated that the announcement could complicate arrangements for their own planned activity and said that such announcements should ideally come from PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar rather than the provincial leadership.
The development also underscores organizational constraints in Punjab, where the PTI’s provincial leadership remains largely inactive due to multiple arrests, limiting its ability to mobilize effectively in the province.
Commenting on the broader strategy, Ahmad Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, said the PTI appears to be seeking political pressure through mobilization in the hope of securing relief for its leadership.
He said this approach could prove counterproductive, noting that the Punjab government is unlikely to allow large-scale mobilization.
He added that while creating political space is a legitimate goal, it should be pursued through non-confrontational means.
Mehboob further noted that recent national and regional developments had reduced PTI’s visibility in the daily news cycle and the renewed mobilization efforts may also be aimed at bringing the party back into political headlines.
