Will the real PTI please stand up?

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated an inquiry into the ‘propaganda’ video featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that was uploaded from PTI founding chairman Imran Khan’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on May 26. The investigation is aimed at determining who created and disseminated the ‘anti-Pakistan propaganda’ video and whether the account holder was involved in the uploading of the video. Imran has reportedly refused to meet the FIA team in Adiala Jail in the absence of his lawyers. While the investigation will continue, this whole episode has been a series of bizarre back-and-forth, especially by the PTI whose leadership has been giving different statements regarding the video on the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report. Some have distanced themselves and their leader from Imran’s X handle while others maintain that tweets from his account are done with his approval. The question is: who speaks for the PTI?

First, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said that the post on X was not aimed at the military and should be seen in a ‘political context’. Then PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said Imran Khan was not aware of the contents of the video and his account is operated from outside Pakistan. Then Zain Qureshi clarified that Imran’s social media was being handled by the party but then Ali Muhammad Khan said that the PTI founder’s X handle will from now on only tweet after getting approval from Imran himself. After this dizzying array of claims and counter-claims, the PTI core committee came into action and demanded that the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report about the fall of Dhaka should be unveiled and said: “In order to save Pakistan from serious internal challenges of 1971 style, to learn from history and to inform the public about the facts the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report be released immediately.” They have also dismissed the FIA investigation as unjustified.

Watching how well the PTI has managed to stay in the news cycle through all its trials and tribulations over the past year or so has been a lesson in relevance. This can easily be attributed to the power of the PTI’s social media presence which has kept the party alive and its workers and supporters motivated – especially after Imran Khan’s incarceration last year. Despite the bat symbol being taken away from the party just before the general elections this year, it was the creativity and dedication of the PTI’s followers online and its social media team that kept its voters informed of the various symbols of PTI candidates and motivated the voters to go out and vote. Even now, the face of the PTI online makes a narrative that sometimes its own leaders fail to do so. To be fair and honest, every other party should rightly be envious of the dedication, commitment and competence of the PTI’s team. But there is a contradiction even within the PTI – not aired much by the party but something that becomes clear in instances like this recent X-Gate. How much do the PTI’s ‘political’ leaders agree with the less political leadership, especially those tasked with social media handling? While the more political leadership would ideally have an eye on negotiation and dialogue, and also on the consequences of hurtling headlong into confrontations, those online and not looking to contest elections or not looking to live in Pakistan, seem to prefer a more provocative style of politicking.

There’s a consolidated opinion amongst political stakeholders that the PTI should initiate talks with political rivals rather than trying to poke the proverbial bear, which can ultimately lead to a mess that will destroy whatever little democratic system that is left in Pakistan. Unfortunately, there seem to be two PTIs – one that is hell-bent on belligerent politics and another wiser party that knows its time to come to the table. Will the real party please raise its hand?