Peshawar: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is going through a growing wave of frustration and disillusionment among its supporters as a major rally in Peshawar failed to attract participation exposing widening gaps between the party’s leadership and its once-energetic worker base.
On the call of leadership, the rally, held in the provincial capital’s traditional PTI venue, witnessed a near-empty arena with both male and female supporters largely absent despite repeated calls for attendance.
As per the eyewitnesses, the rally was scheduled to begin at 12 pm, and workers were informed two days earlier about the event, but yet by 3 pm, neither the central leadership nor a sizeable number of workers had arrived.
A resident of Peshawar Shahid Khan said that leadership had issued clear instructions to gather here, but the rally still hasn’t started. The PTI Workers are losing interest, and no one is showing up while one of the few attendees present in the venue. He further said that past PTI rallies at the same location used to overflow with passionate supporters, a stark contrast to the current scene.
In the Peshawar Public gathering the participants at the venue described the atmosphere as deserted noting that the field resembled an abandoned space rather than a political gathering. Just a handful of women could be seen, despite the fact that female supporters previously attended PTI events in large numbers. Workers attributed this decline primarily to what they called the inefficiency and inconsistency of the party’s current leadership.
Local resident Abdul Basir said that the venue had previously hosted massive PTI gatherings, particularly during campaigns demanding the release founder PTI but now the situation has reversed. That now surprisingly they rallied and hold rallies simply to seek a meeting with him. This shows how drastically things have changed and their difficult time has arrived.
He said that workers have realized their leadership lacks seriousness. He added that people understand now that the leadership is confused and directionless and that’s why the supporters are staying home.
It is observed that declining participation in PTI’s stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a significant indicator of internal dissatisfaction because once known for mobilizing massive crowds, the party now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust, reconnecting with its base, and addressing the growing sentiment that it has lost political momentum and clarity.
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