ISLAMABAD – Lahore is back on 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 broader effort by the party to sustain mobilisation across provinces.
The Lahore move marks Afridi’s second attempt in five months to activate the party in the politically critical province, after an earlier visit in December 2025 faced administrative resistance, including restrictions on public engagements.
Dual Visits Planned
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 PTI continues to push its protest narrative despite past pushback in Punjab, where party activities have faced operational and administrative constraints.
Within the party, the move is being framed as part of a broader political struggle to maintain momentum across regions.
Provincial Leadership Not Aligned
However, PTI’s provincial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appeared less aligned with the plan. PTI K-P President Junaid Akbar said he was not aware of any concrete plan regarding the proposed Lahore trip, adding that his focus remains on organisational responsibilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the recent Mardan rally.
Junaid Akbar said the Lahore visit was part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s plan, adding that he would be willing to take on any role assigned by the party leadership in this regard.
Defence of the Move
In contrast, PTI Central Deputy Secretary for Information Shaukat Yousafzai defended the move, stating 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 part of Pakistan. He reiterated that PTI remains committed to its political struggle despite ongoing challenges.
Coordination with TTAP
On the broader coordination front, it has been instructed 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 would decide independently whether to participate in the movement, indicating differing positions among stakeholders.
TTAP’s Response
Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, spokesperson for the grand opposition alliance, told The Express Tribune on Monday that no consultation was held with the alliance regarding Afridi’s announcement. He said consultation means being taken into confidence before any decision is made, adding that it cannot be called consultation if stakeholders are informed only after decisions are announced publicly.
When asked whether 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 programme was. He also indicated that the announcement could complicate arrangements for their own planned activity and said such announcements should ideally come from PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar rather than provincial leadership.
Organisational Constraints
The development also underscores organisational constraints in Punjab, where PTI’s provincial leadership remains largely inactive due to multiple arrests, limiting its ability to mobilise effectively within the province.
Expert Opinion
Commenting on the broader strategy, Ahmad Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, said PTI appears to be seeking political pressure through mobilisation 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 mobilisation. He added that while creating political space is a legitimate objective, it should be pursued through non-confrontational means.
Mehboob further observed that recent national and regional developments had reduced PTI’s visibility in the daily news cycle, and the renewed mobilisation efforts may also be aimed at bringing the party back into political headlines.
Analysis: A Risky Gamble
Sohail Afridi’s planned Lahore visit is a risky gamble for PTI. The party’s political fortunes in Punjab have waned since Imran Khan’s imprisonment, and past attempts at mobilisation have faced administrative resistance.
The lack of alignment between the KP chief minister and PTI’s provincial leadership is telling. Junaid Akbar’s statement that he was “not aware” of the plan suggests that Afridi may be acting unilaterally.
The TTAP’s response — that no consultation took place — indicates that the opposition alliance is not fully coordinated. The fact that TTAP already has its own plan for Lahore on May 1 could lead to a clash of events rather than a unified opposition front.
Analyst Ahmad Bilal Mehboob’s warning that large-scale mobilisation in Punjab is unlikely to be allowed is prescient. The Punjab government has consistently restricted PTI’s activities.
As PTI struggles to remain relevant in a news cycle dominated by the Iran-US crisis and Pakistan’s mediation efforts, Afridi’s Lahore push may be an attempt to regain attention. But whether it will revive PTI’s fortunes — or further expose its weaknesses — remains to be seen.
