Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف Pakistan Movement for Justice
Abbreviation	PTI
President	Pervaiz Elahi
Chairman	Gohar Ali Khan
Secretary-General	Omar Ayub Khan
Spokesperson	Ali Muhammad Khan Raoof Hasan
Vice Chairman	Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Leader in Senate	Shibli Faraz
Leader in National Assembly	Omar Ayub Khan
Founder	Imran Khan
Founded	25 April 1996 (29 years ago) (1996-04-25)
Headquarters	Sector G-6/4 Islamabad-44000, ICT
Student wing	Insaf Student Federation
Youth wing	Insaf Youth Wing
Women's wing	Insaf Women Wing
Research Wing	Insaf Research Wing
Membership (2012)	10 million
Ideology	Populism Welfarism Egalitarianism Islamic democracy Civic nationalism
Political position	Centre to centre-right
National affiliation	Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin
Colors
Slogan	Change the system, Change Pakistan
Senate	17 / 100
National Assembly	0 / 336
Punjab Assembly	0 / 371
Sindh Assembly	0 / 168
KPK Assembly	0 / 145
Balochistan Assembly	0 / 65
GB Assembly	21 / 33
AJK Assembly	31 / 53
Party flag
Political parties

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which means Pakistan Movement for Justice, is a political party in Pakistan. It was started in 1996 by Imran Khan, a famous Pakistani cricketer and politician. He later became Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 to 2022.

PTI is one of the three main political parties in Pakistan. The other two are the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML–N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Since the 2018 election, PTI has been the largest party in the National Assembly of Pakistan. It says it has over 10 million members in Pakistan and other countries. This makes it one of the biggest political parties in the world.

Even though Imran Khan was popular, PTI did not have much success at first. It did not win any seats in the 1997 or 2002 elections, except for Imran Khan's own seat. From 1999 to 2007, PTI supported the military rule of Pervez Musharraf. But in 2007, they opposed Musharraf and did not take part in the 2008 election. They believed that election was unfair.

During Musharraf's time, a new political idea called the "Third Way" became popular. This led to new parties that were more in the middle, unlike the traditional centre-left PPP and centre-right PML–N. When the PML–Q party became less popular, many of its supporters joined PTI. Also, the PPP's popularity went down after Yousaf Raza Gillani was removed from office in 2012. PTI attracted many former PPP voters, especially in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, because of its focus on helping ordinary people.

In the 2013 election, PTI became a major party. It received over 7.5 million votes, coming in second by votes and third by seats. They won power in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. When they were in opposition, PTI held many rallies. They used popular slogans like Tabdeeli Arahi Hai (meaning "change is coming"). These rallies protested national issues, like the 2014 Azadi march.

In the 2018 election, PTI received 16.9 million votes. This was the most votes any political party had ever received in Pakistan. PTI then formed the national government with five other parties. Imran Khan became the new prime minister. However, in April 2022, a vote of no-confidence removed him and his PTI government from power at the national level. Today, PTI governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. It is also the main opposition party in Sindh and has many representatives in Balochistan.

PTI officially aims to make Pakistan a model welfare state. This means a country that takes care of its people's well-being. They also want to end discrimination against minorities. PTI calls itself a movement against the old ways. It supports an Islamic democracy that focuses on egalitarianism, meaning everyone is equal. PTI says it is the only major Pakistani party that is not based on a single family, unlike the PPP and PML–N.

Since 2019, some people have criticized PTI for not solving economic and political problems. The Pakistani economy became weaker, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Imran Khan and PTI were later praised for helping the country's economy recover. While in power, the party faced criticism for its actions against political opponents. It was also criticized for increasing control over Pakistani media and freedom of speech.

On December 2, 2023, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was chosen as the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf without anyone opposing him. Imran Khan himself picked Gohar Ali Khan for this role.

Party History and Growth

PTI Political rally

How PTI Started

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was started by Imran Khan on April 25, 1996, in Lahore. It began as a social and political group. In June 1996, the first main committee of PTI was formed. Its members included Imran Khan, Naeemul Haque, and others. PTI grew slowly and did not become popular right away.

In October 2002, Imran Khan ran in the national elections. He became a member of parliament (MP) for Mianwali, his hometown. Khan often criticized Pakistan's political system, saying it was corrupt and unfair. He started a campaign to spread awareness about his party.

After Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007, and Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, there was pressure on President Musharraf to hold elections. PTI joined other parties in the All Parties Democratic Movement. This group was against continued military rule. PTI boycotted the 2008 general election. In late 2008, about 150,000 people joined the party.

PTI became a major party in the 2013 Pakistani general election. Public unhappiness with the government in the years after led PTI to become the largest party in the 2018 Pakistani general election. This led to them forming a government with other parties.

New Members Join PTI

Later, PTI welcomed Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis Elahi, and ten former members of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML(Q)) into the party. This happened after disagreements within the PML(Q). On March 7, 2023, Pervaiz Elahi became the President of PTI.

On March 19, 2023, Ijaz-ul-Haq, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Z) (PML(Z)), joined PTI with his party members. The PML(Z) also merged with PTI. However, Ijaz later said that the PML-Z had not merged with PTI.

Challenges Faced by PTI

After the May 9 events, PTI said that its workers and members were treated unfairly and arrested. They claimed that the government of Shehbaz Sharif was taking strong actions against PTI. The government denied these claims, leading to a political disagreement.

Changes in Leadership

During the 2023 Pakistani protests, many politicians left PTI. Some formed new parties. Most who left from Punjab formed the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) led by Jahangir Tareen. Those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa formed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) led by Pervez Khattak. These new parties were seen as more supportive of the establishment.

Many PTI leaders resigned after the May 9 protests. These included Shireen Mazari and others. After Imran Khan was arrested, PTI needed new leaders for the 2024 elections. Many top leaders, like Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, were not available. So, Gohar Ali Khan was chosen as chairman, and Omar Ayub Khan was picked as the candidate for Prime Minister. Imran Khan remained a symbolic leader for the party.

Forming Alliances

On February 20, 2024, PTI announced an alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM). This was to claim their share of reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies. Both allied parties said their support for PTI was "unconditional."

PTI's Goals and Policies

PTI wants to make Pakistan an "Islamic welfare state." This means a country that follows Islamic principles and takes care of its people. They aim for an equal society based on the ideas of the Madina state. PTI plans to reduce poverty, create more job options, improve healthcare, and reform the education system.

Policies for Pakistan

PTI suggested that Pakistan's military should be controlled by civilians. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) would report directly to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The defense budget would also be checked by the government. Imran Khan promised to resign if any terrorism came from Pakistan after these changes.

PTI protested against drone attacks in Pakistan on November 23, 2013, in Peshawar. They asked the government to stop U.S. CIA drone attacks. They also wanted to block NATO supplies going through Pakistan to Afghanistan.

PTI also spoke about religious tolerance and better representation for minorities. They promised to stop police brutality, improve government services, reform elections, and make the justice system truly independent. They wanted to share state power more widely and protect personal freedoms. On February 20, 2013, PTI launched its 'Education Policy'. They planned to have one education system for all of Pakistan. This system would use one curriculum in Urdu, English, and regional languages for primary schools. PTI also supported making South Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan official provinces of Pakistan.

In the 2018 election, Imran Khan promised a "Naya Pakistan" (new Pakistan). After forming the government, PTI faced criticism for not keeping some of its promises. Some progress was slow or delayed.

Foreign Relations

PTI hopes to have a relationship with the US based on "self-dignity and respect." They promised to stop all foreign aid to Pakistan. Imran Khan said that having good relations with the US, Russia, and China is important for Pakistan's future. PTI also promised to make the Kashmir issue a top priority. They would try to solve it permanently so Pakistan has no more border disputes with its neighbors.

How PTI is Organized

Leadership Structure

Leader and Chairman of PTI Imran Khan on stage at a public gathering at Abbottabad.

The National Council is the main governing body of PTI. It includes leaders from provincial, regional, and district groups. It also has members chosen from women, youth, students, workers, farmers, minorities, lawyers, and overseas groups. The National Council chooses the central leaders.

Party Elections

In March 2012, PTI announced plans for internal elections. They wanted to have local elections in districts across the country. Candidates would debate and compete to get a party ticket for provincial or national assembly seats. These elections started in October 2012 and finished on March 23, 2013. Over four million registered members voted. PTI became the first political party in Pakistan to hold such a large internal election. On December 2, 2023, PTI held new internal elections, but these were cancelled by the Election Commission of Pakistan. The party held another election on March 3, 2024.

Main Leaders

Most of PTI's central leaders are elected. Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were elected on March 20, 2013. Other positions like Secretary Information are appointed by the chairman.

Provincial Leaders

Ejaz Chaudhary, former President of Punjab Chapter

Party Groups

Notable party
members and leaders

Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Asad Qaiser

Central Training Council (CTC)

In June 2014, PTI created a Central Training Council. This group trains party members on their ideas, election campaigns, and how the party works.

PTI Women Wing

Insaf Student Federation (ISF)

The Insaf Student Federation (ISF) is the official student group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Insaf Youth Wing

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also has a youth group. It focuses on the concerns of people under 40 years old.

People with Disabilities

On March 18, 2013, PTI announced a policy for people with disabilities (PWD). This policy aimed to raise awareness about including PWD in society. It also worked to prevent some disabilities through early diagnosis and treatment. The KPK government led by PTI approved money to help handicapped people in local hospitals.

Insaf Research Wing

The Insaf Research Wing (IRW) was set up to find solutions to Pakistan's problems. It started in 2009 and covers topics like politics, technology, economy, health, and education. It has nine committees. The IRW has since been replaced by the Insaf Research Team.

PTI's Election Results

The bat remained the iconic electoral symbol of PTI from 2013 to 2023.

People in Peshawar gather to welcome Imran Khan on 23 December 2008

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has taken part in general elections in 1997, 2002, 2013, and 2018. They did not participate in the 2008 elections.

General election results National Assembly

11th National Assembly 1997)

12th National Assembly (2002)

14th National Assembly (2013)

15th National Assembly (2018)

Electoral performance in the National Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Result
		#	%	#	±
1997	Imran Khan	314,820	1.61	0 / 237		none	Extraparliamentary
2002		242,472	0.83	1 / 342	1	10th	In opposition
2008		Did not contest
2013		7,679,954	16.92	35 / 342	35	3rd	In opposition
2018		16,903,702	31.92	149 / 342	114	1st	In government (till 11 April 2022)
							Opposition (from 11 April 2022)

Electoral Performance in Senate of Pakistan elections

Election	Leader	Votes	Seates	Position	+/–	Result
2015	Mohsin Aziz	-	9 / 104	4th	9	In Opposition
2018	Azam Khan Swati Shibli Faraz Shahzad Waseem	-	15 / 104	3rd	6	In Opposition
2021	Shahzad Waseem	–	26 / 100	1st	9	In Government

Electoral performance in the Punjab Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Resulting government
		#	%	#	±
2013	Ghulam Sarwar Khan	4,951,216	17.76	30 / 371	30	2nd	PML (N) majority
2018	Sardar Usman Buzdar	11,141,139	33.65	179 / 371	149	1st	PTI coalition (till 30 April 2022)
							PML (N) coalition (from 30 April 2022 till 27 July 2022)
							PTI coalition (from 27 July 2022)

Electoral performance in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Resulting government
		#	%	#	±
2013	Pervez Khattak	1,039,719	19.31	61 / 124	61	1st	PTI coalition
2018 + 2019 (ex-FATA Elections)	Mahmood Khan	2,314,387	35.32	94 / 145	33	1st	PTI majority

Electoral performance in the Sindh Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Resulting government
		#	%	#	±
2013	Khurram Sher Zaman	609,128	6.08%	4 / 168	4	4th	PPP majority
2018	Firdous Naqvi Haleem Adil Sheikh	1,451,132	14.47%	30 / 168	26	2nd	PPP majority

Electoral performance in the Balochistan Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Resulting government
		#	%	#	±
2018	Yar Muhammad Rind	109,488	6.21	7 / 65	7	4th	BAP coalition

Electoral performance in the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Resulting government
		#	%	#	±
2015	Raja Jahanzeb	42,101	11.11%	1 / 33	1	3rd	PML (N) Majority
2020	Khalid Khurshid	–	–	22 / 33	21	1st	PTI Majority

Electoral performance in the Azad Kashmir Assembly

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats		Position	Resulting government
		#	%	#	±
2016	Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry	211,827	12.7%	2 / 49	2	4th	PML (N) Majority
2021	Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi	613,590	32.5%	32 / 53	24	1st	PTI Majority

Local Elections

Electoral performance in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local elections (district seats)
Election	Seats		Position
	#	±
2015	395 / 1,484		1st

Early General Elections (1997 & 2002)

PTI took part in the 1997 general elections less than a year after it was founded. Imran Khan ran in seven areas but did not win any of them. In the 2002 general elections, Imran Khan won one seat from Mianwali. PTI received 0.8% of the total votes.

2008 General Elections

Imran Khan tearing his nomination paper at a press conference in 2007. PTI boycotted the 2008 general election.

PTI openly chose not to participate in the Pakistani general election on February 18, 2008. They believed the election was unfair and had many problems.

2013 General Elections

On April 21, 2013, Imran Khan, the chairman of PTI, started his campaign for the 2013 elections in Lahore. He spoke to supporters and then visited a religious site. He also held large rallies in Karak and Dera Ismail Khan. He promised to remove Pakistan from the US-led war on terror and bring peace to the Pashtun tribal areas. On April 22, 2013, Khan spoke at public meetings in Malakand, Lower Dir District, and Upper Dir District. He announced that PTI would create one education system for all of Pakistan. This system would give equal chances to children from rich and poor families.

On the same day, he spoke at a rally in Rawalpindi with Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad. On April 23, 2013, Khan held large rallies in Renala Khurd, Okara, and other parts of Sahiwal Division. He challenged PML-N President Nawaz Sharif to a live debate, but PML-N quickly refused. On April 24, Khan spoke at rallies in Nankana Sahib District, Sheikhupura, and Pattoki. He said that if PTI came to power, no member of parliament would get development funds. He believed these funds were misused for political gain.

On April 25, 2013, Khan spoke at political gatherings in South Punjab. These included Pakpattan, Lodhran, and Vehari. The next day, Khan continued his campaign in South Punjab. He spoke at rallies in Jalalpur Pirwala, Muzaffargarh, Mian Channu, Kabirwala, and Khanewal. He promised to end unfair systems. He also said that every village or town would elect its own police chief. He believed this would stop corruption and police brutality. He also promised to remove the old land record system and create a modern, computerized one.

Khan finished his South Punjab campaign by speaking at rallies in Bahawalpur, Khanpur, Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan, and Rajanpur on April 27. During the campaign, he visited over 25 towns and cities. He promised to hold those responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto accountable. He also said that a local government system is important for Pakistan's success. On April 28, Khan moved to central Punjab. He held large rallies in Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, and Sargodha. He promised to bring justice and equality to Pakistan.

On April 29, 2013, Khan spoke at rallies in Murree, Talagang, Chakwal, Taxila, and Attock. On April 30, Khan visited his hometown of Mianwali. He held several rallies there, criticizing the Bhutto and Sharif families. He said, "You can't lead a revolution from behind bulletproof glass." He also claimed he had overcome the fear of dying 17 years ago. On May 1 and 2, Khan spoke at gatherings in Sibi, Loralai, Zafarwal, Pasrur, Narowal, Jacobabad. He also led a car rally in Rawalpindi. On May 3, Khan continued his campaign in Battagram, Mansehra, Torghar District, Abbottabad, and Haripur. This was followed by rallies in Buner District, Swabi, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, and Peshawar on May 4. He promised to end the war on terror.

2013 Election Outcomes

Pakistan's 2013 elections were held on May 11, 2013. The elections resulted in a clear win for the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), a strong rival of PTI. However, PTI managed to become the main opposition to PML-N in Punjab Province. PTI's popularity helped 20 of its members get elected to the Punjab Assembly. PTI also became the second-largest party in Karachi.

According to unofficial results, Imran Khan won three of the four areas he ran in. These were Constituency NA-1, Constituency NA-56, and Constituency NA-71. PTI won 31 directly elected seats in parliament. This was a big increase from the 2002 elections. Nationally, PTI became the third-largest party. It was the largest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the second-largest in Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI defeated all major political parties with mostly new candidates. They won every seat in Peshawar, Nowshera, and Mardan district. PTI was expected to lead a government with other parties in that province. However, PTI did not win a majority in Punjab and had limited success in Sindh or Baluchistan. PTI got 34 out of 99 seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Results

PTI showed great strength in Central and Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, it faced challenges from other parties in Northern Pakhtunkhwa. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI received more than 5% of the votes in almost all areas. The party also had some difficulties in FATA, which is next to Pakhtunkhwa province. In FATA, PTI won only one out of 12 areas.

Punjab Results

PTI in 2013 Elections by percentage of votes polled

In Punjab, PTI did best in the North and South. It won most of its seats from these regions. It received more than 5% of the votes in all areas of Northern Punjab. In Southern Punjab, its support was mainly in Multan and nearby areas. However, its performance was not as strong in some other districts.

PTI gained ground in Central Punjab in districts like Mianwali, Lahore, and Faisalabad. Mianwali district, where Imran Khan is from, showed very strong support for PTI. PTI received an average of 59.85% of votes there. On the other hand, PTI did not do well in districts like Jhang and Sargodha.

Sindh Results

PTI largely overlooked Sindh (except for Karachi) during its campaign. This was clear in the election results. The party did not even have candidates in 19 out of 40 areas in Interior Sindh. Where it did have candidates, it struggled to get more than 5% of the votes in many areas. PTI's only notable success in Interior Sindh was in NA-228 Umerkot and NA-230 Tharparkar. This was because of the support for PTI's vice president, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in those areas.

In Karachi, PTI received an average of 20.37% of votes in the areas it participated in. The constituency NA-250 in Karachi had the highest percentage of votes for PTI, at 61.38%.

Balochistan Results

In Balochistan, the situation was similar to Interior Sindh. PTI did not have candidates in 4 out of the province's 13 areas. In 7 of the remaining 9 areas, it did not receive more than 5% of the votes. PTI did relatively well in NA-259 of Quetta and NA-265 Sibi.

2018 General Elections

Pakistan's 2018 elections were held on July 25, 2018. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won a clear majority in the National Assembly with 116 seats. With additional seats for women and minorities, their total reached 149. PTI received 16.9 million votes, which was 31.82% of all votes cast. They formed a government at the national level with other parties. These parties included MQM-P, PML (Q), and others.

PTI also formed governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (78 seats) and Punjab (175 seats). They also joined a government in Balochistan. After the elections, Imran Khan was elected as Prime Minister. PTI also successfully elected its Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Arif Alvi was elected as the 13th President of Pakistan. PTI appointed Usman Ahmad Khan Buzdar as Chief Minister of Punjab, Mahmood Khan as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Jam Kamal Khan as Chief Minister of Balochistan. They also appointed governors for different provinces. Prime Minister Imran Khan formed his cabinet, with Asad Umar as Minister of Finance and Shah Mehmood Qureshi as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

PTI's Presence in Provincial Assemblies

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government

In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI formed a government with the Jamaat-e-Islami and Qaumi Watan parties. On May 13, 2013, Parvez Khattak became the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Development Advisory Committee included Asad Umar and other members. Fifteen ministers from the allied parties formed the cabinet for Chief Minister Parvez Khattak.

See also

In Spanish: Movimiento por la Justicia de Pakistán para niños

• Politics of Pakistan
• List of political parties in Pakistan
• List of student federations of Pakistan
• List of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPs