Pakistan’s politics since 2022 has often been described as a high-stakes game between civilian parties and the country’s powerful security establishment. In 2025 that dynamic is playing out through mass protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), heavy state responses, and legal actions that together are reshaping the country’s immediate political landscape. This article explains the timeline, the motivations on both sides, the tools being used, likely scenarios ahead, and safe ways for writers and analysts to cover the crisis without inflaming tensions.
Snapshot: what happened on August 5 and why it matters
On August 5, 2025, PTI organized nationwide rallies to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan, marking the second anniversary of his detention. Security forces detained hundreds of demonstrators across multiple cities as police enforced bans on large gatherings and used teargas and baton control in some areas. The arrests and dispersals shut down many planned events and highlighted the intensity of state-party confrontation.
Background: long-running tensions and recent legal actions
PTI’s street politics and the state’s responses are rooted in earlier confrontations, including major unrest in 2023 that led to prosecutions of party members. In late July 2025, an anti-terrorism court sentenced more than a hundred PTI supporters in connection with attacks on military sites that followed the 2023 unrest—an outcome that significantly weakened PTI’s parliamentary strength and intensified calls for protests from the party. These legal steps form a core part of the context for current demonstrations.
The state’s toolbox: security measures and new forces
Alongside policing and court actions, the government authorized structural security changes intended to strengthen internal responses. In mid-July 2025, authorities formalized the expansion of an internal security force—recasting the Frontier Constabulary into a more widely deployed Federal Constabulary—ostensibly to handle internal security and crowd control across the country. Critics say such changes risk being used against political movements; government officials say they are necessary for public order.
Inside PTI: strategy, discipline and internal tensions
PTI leadership has leaned on both parliamentary and street tactics, but the party has also shown signs of internal disagreement about timing and methods. Some provincial leaders pushed for immediate, mass public rallies, while central figures floated a phased 90-day campaign to build momentum—producing confusion among organizers and diluting impact in some areas. This internal friction has complicated PTI’s ability to maintain a unified national campaign.
What each side is trying to achieve (and what they risk)
-
PTI’s aims: revive political momentum, mobilize public sympathy for its jailed leader, and pressure courts or the executive for legal redress or negotiated outcomes. Doing so, PTI hopes, could restore some of its political capital and bargaining power.
-
State objectives: maintain public order, deter violent escalation, and uphold security priorities—while projecting that rule of law will be enforced. Authorities are also wary of any unrest that might affect economic stability or international perceptions.
Both sides face risks: PTI risks loss of popular support if protests repeatedly falter or turn violent; the state risks domestic and international criticism if security measures appear disproportionate or if political space is perceived to be shrinking.
0 Comments