Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is a political party in Pakistan founded by Imran Khan in 1996. PTI is a centrist party that is focused on social welfare, anti-corruption, and economic development.
Imran Khan, a former cricket player and philanthropist, started his political career by founding a social welfare organization called the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust in honor of his mother, who died of cancer. The organization established a cancer hospital in Lahore, which provides free cancer treatment to poor patients. Imran Khan‘s success with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust inspired him to start a political party that would focus on the same principles of social welfare and anti-corruption.
In April 1996, Imran Khan officially launched Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Lahore. The party’s main objective was to create a just and equitable society by implementing policies that would benefit the poor and marginalized sections of society. PTI’s ideology was centered around promoting social justice, creating a welfare state, and ensuring accountability of public officials.
PTI’s early years were marked by low electoral success, with the party failing to win a single seat in the 1997 general elections. However, PTI continued to grow and gain popularity, and in the 2002 general elections, the party won one seat in the National Assembly.
In the 2008 general elections, PTI won only one seat in the National Assembly, but the party’s popularity continued to grow, especially among the youth. PTI’s anti-corruption stance and promise to create a just and equitable society resonated with many young people, who were disillusioned with the traditional political parties.
The turning point for PTI came in the 2013 general elections, when the party won 35 seats in the National Assembly, making it the third-largest party in the country. Imran Khan himself was elected to the National Assembly for the first time, and the party formed the government in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In the 2018 general elections, PTI emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly, winning 115 out of 272 seats. Imran Khan was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and PTI formed the government at the federal level for the first time in its history.
Since coming to power, PTI has implemented a number of policy initiatives aimed at fulfilling its promises of social welfare, anti-corruption, and economic development. The government has launched several social welfare programs, including the Ehsaas program, which provides cash transfers and other social safety net benefits to low-income families.
PTI has also made efforts to improve the business and investment environment in the country, with initiatives such as the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the establishment of special economic zones. The government has also undertaken reforms in the agriculture, health, and education sectors.
However, PTI’s tenure has not been without controversy. The party has been accused of curtailing media freedom, harassing opposition politicians and journalists, and suppressing dissent. The government has also faced criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis that has resulted from it.
Despite these challenges, PTI remains a popular party in Pakistan, with a strong support base among the youth and middle class. The party’s focus on social welfare, anti-corruption, and economic development continues to resonate with many Pakistanis, and PTI’s rise to power marks a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.