Imran Khan's Strategy to Secure an Election Victory while Incarcerated

Imran Khan and his party, the PTI, have experienced a steep decline in their political standing, going from leading the country as prime minister to facing imprisonment and electoral restrictions. Despite these setbacks, the PTI remains optimistic about its chances in the upcoming general election in Pakistan. The party is using social media as a tool to circumvent the authorities' crackdown and has fielded new, untested candidates. While some candidates, like Rehena Dar, openly support Imran Khan and campaign with his image, others are technically running as independents due to the electoral commission's decision to strip the PTI of its cricket bat symbol. Additionally, the party has faced various obstacles, including arrests, intimidation, and violence that have hindered their campaigning efforts. To overcome these challenges, the PTI is leveraging technology and digital media to connect with voters. Imran Khan's personal accounts on X, Instagram, and TikTok have a significant following, surpassing those of the other major parties combined. The PTI has also developed a website to help voters identify PTI-backed candidates based on their symbols. Virtual rallies have become a key solution for the party, providing a safe, cost-effective, and efficient way to disseminate their message. However, the party faces limitations as only about 30% of Pakistan's population actively uses social media. Some political analysts attribute the PTI's current misfortunes to the powerful military's influence and manipulation, suggesting that the party benefitted from electoral engineering in the previous election. Nonetheless, the intensity of the crackdown on the PTI this time is seen as unprecedented. Despite the negative media coverage surrounding Imran Khan's imprisonment, the PTI is working to inspire and mobilize its supporters to vote in large numbers, hoping to achieve an unexpected victory.