part from the apparent turmoil in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf camp, there is an added unease in the ranks of party leaders – those that have not yet been incarcerated. These leaders find themselves in a difficult spot, unable to make a move to find a political solution out of the impasse between the opposition [read, the PTI] and the government. Among the most dominant factors are the distrust of their incarcerated chief, Imran Khan; criticism and interference by his spouse, Bushra Bibi, and sister, Aleema Khan; and the relentless trolling by the party’s keyboard warriors at the slightest hint of an amicable approach to government offers to talks. When these leaders try to act according to Khan’s wishes, they face the wrath of law enforcement and security agencies. This and more prevents them from devising a clear political strategy amid the ongoing political crisis.

Imran Khan has been expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of these PTI leaders. He wants them to act ‘aggressively,’ giving no concession to his opponents. In a recent media talk in Adiyala Jail, he said, “I read in the newspapers that PTI leaders are living in a friendly atmosphere outside the jail.”

In October, while announcing his November 24 ‘final call’ for Islamabad, a statement on his X [formerly, Twitter] account read, “Everyone must join the protest on November 24th. If a PTI leader or ticket holder is unable to ensure their participation in the protest, they should disassociate themselves from the party because this is a decisive moment, when the entire nation will come out for freedom. The nation will not accept any excuse at such a critical time.” This was seen as an expression of anger against party leaders.

Aleema Khan too is often heard cursing party leaders. She believes that some PTI leaders don’t want Khan to come out of jail. Three months ago, a senior PTI leader visited Imran Khan in Adiyala Jail, early in the morning. That visit surprised all quarters. After the meeting, Azam Swati announced that Imran Khan had postponed the rally that was to be held in Islamabad in August. Aleema Khan strongly criticised Swati for his visit and said, “Who sent him to jail so early in the morning? Why did he persuade Khan to postpone the rally? This decision should have been taken by party chairman Gohar Ali Khan.”

In another party’s virtual meeting, she exchanged harsh words with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for not mobilising people for a protest rally.

Likewise, Bushra Bibi, exerts pressure and exercises influence on PTI leaders. It is said that she believes that she is commanding them on behalf of Khan. In a meeting held after the D Chowk fiasco, she used words like ‘shameless’ and ‘vultures’ to criticise certain party leaders, leading to the resignations of Firdaus Shamim Naqvi and Salman Akram Raja. However, the resignations were not accepted.

Another factor is the intense trolling of PTI leaders on social networking websites by the party’s online supporters. Some PTI leaders are targeted with abuse and threats for being polite or decent or appearing to be that way in assemblies and rallies, and in their interactions with the government.

On the condition of anonymity, a PTI leader told The News on Sunday, “I cannot express my opinion about the possibility of a dialogue with the government or the establishment because trolls will be unleashed on me online for my ‘politeness’ [towards them].”

While trying to avoid the wrath of Khan, his family and online supporters, some of these leaders fall into deep waters as they face police action and arrest. Hammad Azhar, the PTI Punjab president, vibrantly participated in the protests before and after the May 9 incidents. His house has since been raided several times. As a result, he was unable to contest the general election. He fielded his father Mian Azhar, a former governor of the Punjab and formerly a friend to the Sharifs, who won the seat against a PML-N candidate. Despite his age and declining health, Mian Azhar was taken into custody, albeit released a few hours later. Hammad Azhar’s house was raided several times in his absence. He is living the life of a proclaimed offender.

Likewise, PTI Punjab’s former information secretary Musarrat Jamshed Cheema’s residence was raided dozens of times. This, despite her and her spouse, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, not being active recently. The two were taken into custody under cases lodged over May 9 incidents. Later, they were forced to announce that they were leaving the party.

Other than police raids, registration of cases against PTI leaders has been a constant worry. Whoever attempts to be politically active is nominated in some case or is arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order law.

The communication gap between an incarcerated Khan and his party leaders is fuelling confusion in the party ranks. Some self-styled leaders currently abroad are also adding fuel to the fire through their aggressive posturing.

Restructuring the party’s organisation, empowering its core committee to take independent decisions and blocking interference by irrelevant people in party’s affairs could bring some respite to the party and its leaders. But who will state the obvious?

The author is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst. He tweets at @BukhariMubasher