In Pakistan’s volatile political theatre, few stories have turned as sharply as that of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. Once riding a crest of popular momentum, the party now finds itself navigating a deep crisis of identity and purpose. The incarceration of its leadership has not merely created a void at the top; it has laid bare the party’s structural frailty and triggered a fierce internal struggle that could shape Pakistan’s political trajectory for years to come.

Today, PTI stands at a fork in the road: should it persist with its politics of resistance, or pivot toward dialogue and survival? The answer is anything but straightforward, for it exposes deep fractures inside the party and raises broader questions about the sustainability of Pakistan’s democratic framework.

Today, PTI stands at a fork in the road: should it persist with its politics of resistance, or pivot toward dialogue and survival?

At the heart of PTI’s current turmoil is the absence of its central command. The prolonged incarceration of its leader and key aides has severed the lines of communication that once dictated every major decision. Senior leaders now admit there’s a critical gap in guidance. The consequence has been chaos, visible across the party’s ranks and digital channels. The same social media machinery that once sustained PTI’s momentum has become a forum for accusations and loyalty tests. Nowhere has this disconnect been clearer than in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Despite instructions that the provincial budget should not proceed without consultation, the KP government pushed ahead, passing its budget without explicit approval. Even Chief Minister Ali Amin........

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