Imran Khan’s ouster from his position as Prime Minister through a no confidence vote may have angered his die hard base and legion of loyal supporters, but it has also reenergised and won over disgruntled voters of PTI.
One can find faults in how the former cricketing legend governed during his tenure and we can criticise some of his policies and decisions, but even his harshest of critics cannot deny Imran Khan’s popularity.
The love and adulation that Khan has received following his removal from office continues to grow by leaps and bounds, with no other political leader succeeding in capturing the affection of the public. Even around the world, no other world leader at present has the luxury of such a huge and loyal following. Today Imran Khan is the darling of the masses.
PTI once labelled a “burger” party with “mummy daddy” voters, now has the support of all ages, from all walks of life. One look at Imran Khan’s political rallies (jalsas) and we see the young, the elderly, people belonging to all classes, standing shoulder to shoulder. But the one thing that stands out the most during Imran Khan’s jalsas that never goes unnoticed is the turnout of women and the youth.
Young girls, women and even elderly female supporters of Imran Khan will always be in attendance for Khan. Sadly, a woman’s passion and interest for politics is still not taken seriously by those that poke fun at the participation of women in political rallies.
They are further insulted by the insinuation that they are intrigued by Imran Khan’s persona, rather than his political ideology. It is still hard to fathom for some that a woman could possibly be interested in what shapes their future.
This is something that Pakistani society is still coming to terms with. Women continue to fight for their space in the political sphere because they are patronised, not seen as able to comprehend issues that affect the country. This is where PTI should be given credit. It is arguably the only political party that has given women the space that was lacking before.
In comparison, the other two main political parties that have taken turns between them to rule, cannot boast of the same. PML(N) launched Maryam Nawaz into the political arena, to fill her father’s void. Although vocal and dominant, Maryam lacks the ability to inspire young girls and women.
One glance at Noon League’s rallies and the non-existence of women is glaringly obvious. Even the young Asifa Bhutto, who has been at the forefront of some of Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) rallies, has failed to draw in the support of young girls and women.
Benazir Bhutto’s fought to survive and make her mark in a male dominated environment, and this should have been a driving force for Asifa to engage with young girls and women. But we have not seen that from PPP.
The youth are also equally disinterested with what other political parties have to offer. PPP, despite being led by the young Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, have failed to connect with the youth. His party’s presence has been reduced to one province alone and most of its supporters are still romanticising his late grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Bilawal was handed over the Bhutto mantle following the assassination of his mother. This was never going to be an easy task, and politics can be ruthless, especially in Pakistan. But Bilawal has failed to carve his own identity, his style unappealing for the younger generation, who now look towards a 69-year-old Imran Khan.
According to a survey carried out in 2021, over 64 percent of the population is below the age of 30 years, making Pakistan one of the youngest nations in the world. The young population should be brimming with hope and aspirations for the future.
Instead, there is frustration and dejection at the lack of opportunities and unemployment. So, it makes sense for the youth to feel disengaged with political parties that are handed down to the next generation, without having to work for it.
Whatever one may think of Imran Khan both as a person and leader of Pakistan’s biggest political party, his consistency has to be acknowledged. If we deconstruct Imran Khan’s comments over the years, we will see that his core beliefs have not changed and this appeals to the youth. Khan has always emphasised that the youth are an asset to the country and have a significant role to play. This in itself has been a motivating factor for them.
The PTI chairman recently launched a programme called ‘Tiger Force,’ inviting the youth to register and contribute to spreading his party’s message. Khan also requested the youth to sign up in order to foil any attempts of rigging at polling stations on election day. This type of engagement with the youth is why PTI will always have one up over other parties.
Whenever we hear from the youth, they attribute their political awareness to Khan. And this is where other parties have seriously faltered. They do not take the youth seriously, dismissing them as either “ill informed” or looking down at them as part of Khan’s cult. They continue to underestimate the power that the youth possess.
A generation that has stayed clear from politics due to the monopoly of two political dynasties are now taking an active interest in how the country should progress because they reject dynasty politics and see Khan as the only alternative. Imran Khan’s constants repetition in his speeches emphasising on the same points over and over may irritate some, but it has actually been a very effective tool in building a successful narrative.
If other parties are serious about engaging with female voters and the youth, they will have to make more of a conscious effort to do so and think out of the box, rather rely on old tactics. But this will not be easy. PTI is miles ahead when it comes to engaging with its base and its social media team is very savvy. On the other hand, PTI’s political opponents are stuck in the 90s, with an outdated approach. But the main difference will always be Khan.
