The PTI Protests in Pakistan (2022-2026): A Saga of Populism and Power

1. Introduction

The political landscape of Pakistan has been in a state of constant flux since early 2022, primarily driven by the relentless protest movement spearheaded by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its charismatic leader, Imran Khan. What began as a reaction to a parliamentary vote of no confidence has evolved into a multi-year populist surge that has challenged the very foundations of Pakistan's civil-military governance. This movement, defined by its "Haqeeqi Azadi" (True Freedom) narrative, has seen millions of Pakistanis take to the streets, resulting in significant socio-political shifts, economic turbulence, and a fundamental re-evaluation of the country's democratic stability. As of February 2026, the movement remains a potent force, transitioning from massive street rallies to a more localized and digital form of resistance, yet the central grievance—the demand for fair elections and civilian supremacy—remains unchanged.

2. The Genesis: April 2022 Ouster

The spark that ignited this long-running unrest was the ousting of Prime Minister Imran Khan through a Vote of No Confidence (VoNC) in April 2022. Khan, who had come to power in 2018 with significant support from the country's powerful military establishment, saw his relationship with the "miltablishment" sour over the appointment of the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and disagreements on foreign policy. The opposition, united under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), seized this opportunity to move the VoNC.

Khan's response was not to go quietly into the night but to frame his ouster as a "Foreign Conspiracy" orchestrated by the United States in collaboration with local "traitors." This narrative, centered around a diplomatic cable known as the "Cipher," resonated deeply with his base. Within hours of his removal, massive spontaneous protests erupted in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and even international cities like London and New York. These early rallies were unprecedented in their scale and spontaneity, signaling that the PTI was no longer just a political party but a populist movement.

Date	Event	Location	Outcome
April 10, 2022	Vote of No Confidence	Islamabad	Imran Khan ousted with 174 votes.
April 11, 2022	Spontaneous Protests	Nationwide	Millions take to the streets; Khan begins "Public Rallies" phase.
April-May 2022	"Jalsas" (Public Meetings)	Major Cities	PTI demonstrates massive street power, demanding immediate elections.

3. The 2022 Long Marches

Following the success of his initial rallies, Imran Khan announced a series of "Long Marches" on Islamabad to force the new PDM government into calling for early general elections. The first of these, the Azadi March I in May 2022, was met with a brutal state crackdown. Containers were placed across major highways, and police used heavy tear gas to disperse protesters at D-Chowk in Islamabad. To avoid further bloodshed, Khan called off the sit-in after 24 hours, giving the government a six-day ultimatum that ultimately went unheeded.

The movement reached a fever pitch during the Azadi March II in October 2022. As the march progressed through Punjab, an assassination attempt was made on Imran Khan in Wazirabad on November 3, 2022. Khan sustained bullet wounds to his leg, an event that sent shockwaves through the country and further radicalized his supporters. The protest continued under his deputy, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, but the focus shifted to a more confrontational stance against the military leadership, whom Khan directly blamed for the attack. This period marked the beginning of a direct and public confrontation between a popular civilian leader and the military high command, a "Red Line" that had rarely been crossed so brazenly in Pakistani history.

4. The Watershed Moment: May 9, 2023

The trajectory of PTI's protest movement changed irrevocably on May 9, 2023. On this day, Imran Khan was arrested by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. The footage of the arrest, showing Rangers breaking through windows to seize the former Prime Minister, went viral instantly, triggering a wave of fury across the country.

Unlike previous protests, the unrest on May 9 was marked by targeted attacks on military installations. In Lahore, protesters breached the Corps Commander House (historically known as Jinnah House); in Rawalpindi, the gates of the General Headquarters (GHQ) were attacked; and in Mianwali, a dummy aircraft at an airbase was set on fire. The state's response was swift and overwhelming. The military labeled May 9 a "Black Day" and a "dark chapter" in the country's history, equating the rioters to terrorists.

"The May 9 violence was not a spontaneous outburst but a pre-planned conspiracy to incite a mutiny within the army." — Official Statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), May 2023.

The aftermath saw the arrest of over 10,000 PTI workers and the entire top-tier leadership. This led to a mass exodus of senior leaders from the party, many of whom cited the violence against the military as their reason for leaving, while others were widely believed to have been coerced. The party was effectively dismantled as a traditional political entity, forced to operate from the shadows.

5. Protesting from the Shadows: 2023-2024

Following the May 9 crackdown, the PTI adopted a strategy of "Digital Resistance." With its leaders in jail or in hiding, and mainstream media barred from mentioning Imran Khan's name, the party turned to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube. They organized "Virtual Jalsas" using AI-generated speeches of Imran Khan, which drew millions of viewers despite frequent internet shutdowns by the state.

The 2024 General Elections became the ultimate form of protest. Despite being stripped of their iconic "Bat" symbol and forced to run as independents, PTI-backed candidates secured the largest number of seats in the National Assembly. This result was seen by many as a "silent revolution" through the ballot box. However, the subsequent formation of a coalition government by the PML-N and PPP, amid widespread allegations of "Form 47" rigging (where results were allegedly altered in the dark of night), led to a new wave of protests. Supporters took to the streets across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and urban centers of Punjab, brandishing "Form 45s" (the original result sheets) as proof of their stolen mandate.

6. The 2025-2026 Phase: Persistent Unrest

As the movement entered 2025, the PTI consolidated its allies into the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), a grand opposition alliance focused on the protection of the Constitution. The focus shifted to resisting constitutional changes, most notably the 26th Constitutional Amendment in late 2024, which the PTI argued was designed to curtail the independence of the judiciary and protect the incumbent government.

By February 8, 2026, marking the second anniversary of the 2024 elections, the PTI called for a countrywide "Shutter-Down" strike. The response was mixed, reflecting the exhaustion of the public after years of unrest and the effectiveness of state-imposed roadblocks. While cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan saw near-total shutdowns, life in Lahore and Islamabad remained largely functional due to a massive police presence. However, the symbolic value of the strike remained high, demonstrating that despite the imprisonment of "Prisoner 804" (Imran Khan's prison ID), the movement's core message of defiance remained alive.

Phase	Primary Tactic	State Response
Mid-2023	Legal Battles & Social Media	Mass Arrests & Media Ban
Early 2024	Electoral Participation	Symbol Stripping & Internet Shutdowns
2025 - 2026	Constitutional Alliances & Strikes	Roadblocks & Legislative Changes

7. Socio-Political and Economic Impact

The prolonged period of PTI-led protests has had a profound and often debilitating impact on Pakistan’s stability. Economically, the instability has been a nightmare for a country already teetering on the edge of default. Each major protest, especially the long marches and shutter-down strikes, resulted in the suspension of commercial activity in major hubs like Karachi and Lahore. Furthermore, the political uncertainty made negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) more complex, as the lender sought assurances of political consensus that was nowhere to be found.

Socially, the movement has polarized the nation to an unprecedented degree. The "Khan vs. The System" narrative has divided families, friendships, and professional institutions. The judiciary, in particular, became a battleground, with judges often split between those seen as sympathetic to the PTI’s constitutional arguments and those aligned with the state’s executive power. This polarization has also extended to the digital realm, where "Digital Deserts"—frequent and prolonged internet shutdowns—have crippled the country’s burgeoning IT sector and gig economy, all in the name of maintaining law and order.

8. International Perspective

The international community has watched Pakistan’s descent into political chaos with growing concern. While the United States and the European Union have generally maintained a policy of non-interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs, human rights organizations have been vocal. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly issued reports condemning the mass arrests of political workers, the use of military courts to try civilians, and the suppression of freedom of speech.

The Pakistani diaspora has also played a critical role in internationalizing the protest movement. PTI supporters in the US and UK have organized protests outside 10 Downing Street and the White House, lobbying foreign lawmakers to take a stand against the "democratic backsliding" in Pakistan. This international pressure has occasionally forced the Pakistani government to provide better facilities for Imran Khan in jail or to reconsider some of its more draconian measures, though the overall impact on domestic policy remains limited.

9. Future Outlook

The central question facing Pakistan in 2026 is whether the PTI protest movement can achieve its goals without the physical presence of its leader. Imran Khan remains the sole gravity of the party; his imprisonment has turned him into a martyr-like figure for his followers, but it has also hampered the party's ability to coordinate large-scale, decisive actions. The "Prisoner 804" factor is a double-edged sword: it keeps the base energized but leaves the party leadership in a state of perpetual tactical confusion.

Looking ahead to the 2028 elections, the shadow of the current unrest looms large. If the grievances regarding the 2024 elections are not addressed through some form of political reconciliation or judicial commission, the next electoral cycle is likely to be even more contentious. The potential for a "grand bargain" between the PTI and the military remains the subject of intense speculation, yet the wounds of May 9 are deep and may take years, if not decades, to heal.

10. Conclusion

The PTI protest movement from 2022 to 2026 represents a seminal chapter in Pakistan’s history. It has demonstrated the immense power of populist mobilization in the digital age and the resilience of a leader who, despite being stripped of his office, his party symbol, and his freedom, continues to dominate the national conversation. However, this movement has also exposed the fragility of Pakistan’s democratic institutions and the high cost of a fractured social contract. As the country moves forward, the endurance of these protests suggests that a top-down solution to political dissent is no longer viable. Only a genuine, inclusive democratic process can offer a path toward the stability that has eluded Pakistan for so long. The saga of the PTI protests is not just about one man or one party; it is a reflection of a nation’s painful struggle to define the boundaries of power, law, and the will of the people.

Key Takeaways

•Resilience of Populism: The movement has survived the most intense state crackdown in Pakistan's history.

•Digital Frontier: Social media has become the primary battleground for political narratives.

•Institutional Polarization: The judiciary and the military have been drawn into the center of political conflict.

•Economic Toll: Political instability remains the single largest hurdle to Pakistan's economic recovery.

11. The Role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The Resistance Hub

A critical dimension of the PTI protest movement has been the role of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. As the only province where the PTI managed to form a government after the 2024 elections, KP has become the geographic and administrative heart of the resistance. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial government has often acted as a "state within a state," providing a sanctuary for PTI workers fleeing crackdowns in Punjab and Sindh.

The KP government’s use of provincial resources—including official vehicles and machinery—to clear roadblocks during marches on Islamabad has led to unprecedented constitutional friction. On several occasions, the federal government has threatened to impose Governor’s Rule in the province, a move that would likely trigger a massive and potentially violent reaction from the local population. The tribal nature of the province, combined with a deep-seated sense of disenfranchisement, has made KP the most volatile front in the PTI’s battle against the federal coalition.

12. Media Censorship and the "Digital Desert"

The suppression of the PTI movement has gone hand-in-hand with a systematic dismantling of media freedom in Pakistan. Since 2022, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued numerous directives barring TV channels from broadcasting Imran Khan’s speeches or even mentioning his name. Journalists who were seen as sympathetic to the PTI’s cause, such as Arshad Sharif (who was tragically killed in Kenya) and Imran Riaz Khan (who faced enforced disappearance), became symbols of the high price of dissent.

This censorship forced the PTI to innovate, leading to the "Digital Desert" phenomenon. To counter the PTI’s online dominance, the state has frequently throttled internet speeds or shut down social media platforms entirely during key protest dates. In 2024 and 2025, the government began implementing a national firewall, ostensibly to curb "digital terrorism." However, critics argue that the primary purpose of this infrastructure is to monitor and suppress the PTI’s digital mobilization. This has had a devastating impact on Pakistan's digital economy, with freelancers and tech startups losing millions of dollars in revenue due to unreliable connectivity.

13. The Judicial Crisis: A House Divided

The PTI protests have also precipitated a profound crisis within Pakistan's superior judiciary. The courts have been asked to adjudicate on matters that are essentially political, from the legality of the VoNC to the delay in provincial elections and the stripping of the party's electoral symbol. This has placed judges in an impossible position, where every decision is viewed through a partisan lens.

The polarization reached a peak during the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and his successor. The judiciary became divided into "pro-establishment" and "pro-law" factions, at least in the eyes of the public. The PTI’s reliance on the courts to protect its constitutional rights has met with mixed success, leading to a sense of frustration among its supporters. This frustration was evident during the protests against the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which many lawyers and PTI activists viewed as a "judicial coup" designed to ensure that only "compliant" judges are appointed to the Supreme Court.

14. Civil-Military Relations: Crossing the Red Line

The most significant and perhaps most permanent impact of the PTI protests has been on the relationship between the civilian population and the military establishment. Historically, the Pakistan Army has been viewed as the most respected and powerful institution in the country, often acting as the ultimate arbiter of political disputes. However, Imran Khan’s decision to name and shame senior military officials—a practice he dubbed "naming the neutrals"—has shattered the traditional aura of invincibility surrounding the institution.

The events of May 9 were the culmination of this friction. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, ordinary citizens, fueled by populist rhetoric, attacked the symbols of military power. While the state has used this violence to justify a crackdown, the underlying sentiment of defiance remains. The military's attempt to "re-educate" the public through the narrative of May 9 has met with significant skepticism, especially among the youth. This "generational shift" in perception is perhaps the most daunting challenge for the military establishment, as it seeks to maintain its traditional role in a country where a large segment of the population no longer views its intervention as legitimate.

15. The Economic Cost of Defiance

The economic consequences of the PTI-led unrest cannot be overstated. In 2022, as the protests began, Pakistan’s inflation rate was already rising, but the political chaos accelerated the currency's freefall. The "Long Marches" often coincided with critical junctures in IMF reviews, leading to delays in the disbursement of tranches. For a country with dwindling foreign exchange reserves, these delays were nearly fatal.

The frequent shutdowns of major cities have also taken a toll on the daily-wage earners and small business owners, many of whom are the very people the PTI claims to represent. While the party argues that "economic stability cannot come without political stability," the reality is that the path to political stability through protest has been paved with economic ruin for many. In 2026, as the government attempts to implement a "Special Investment Facilitation Council" (SIFC) to attract foreign capital, the specter of PTI-led protests remains the single biggest deterrent for potential investors from the Gulf and China.

16. The Diaspora: A Globalized Movement

The PTI is perhaps the first Pakistani political party to effectively leverage its overseas chapters as a tool of domestic political pressure. The Pakistani diaspora in the Middle East, Europe, and North America is predominantly pro-PTI and has been highly active in the "Haqeeqi Azadi" movement. They have not only provided financial support to the party during its legal battles but have also engaged in sophisticated digital diplomacy.

Diaspora members have been instrumental in getting the attention of international bodies like the United Nations and the US Congress. In 2024, a resolution was introduced in the US House of Representatives calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations of rigging in Pakistan’s elections, a move largely credited to the lobbying efforts of Pakistani-Americans. This globalized nature of the protest movement means that even if the state manages to suppress the PTI within Pakistan, the narrative of resistance continues to flourish and exert pressure from abroad.