Pakistan’s political landscape has always been emotional, energetic, and deeply divided, but in recent years the intensity of these divisions has reached new levels, especially among the supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leader, Imran Khan. PTI workers and supporters show a kind of loyalty that is rare in mainstream politics, but their behaviour towards anyone who dares to criticise Imran Khan, even when the criticism is based on facts or points out any wrongdoing, has created an atmosphere of fear, conflict, and intolerance. This behaviour has not only affected political opponents but also journalists, analysts, academics, and even ordinary citizens who try to present a different opinion.
Imran Khan rose to power as a symbol of change, honesty, and hope. Many people believed that he would bring a new kind of politics to Pakistan, one free from corruption and old power structures. Because of this belief, PTI’s supporters developed a near-emotional attachment to him. For them, Imran is not just a political leader; he is a hero, a saviour of the nation. In such a situation, any criticism of him is seen not as a political opinion but as a direct attack on the identity and dreams of his supporters. This emotional bond is one of the reasons why PTI supporters react so strongly and aggressively whenever someone questions Imran’s decisions, statements, or alleged wrongdoing.
Compared with other major political parties in Pakistan, the MQM’s style of politics under Altaf Hussain stood out for its centralised control, emotional speeches, and heavy reliance on fear-based narratives. Parties like the PML-N and PPP, despite internal issues and power struggles, operated through broader political networks, regional alliances, and patronage systems rather than direct intimidation. PTI, in contrast, emerged with a promise of change and attracted younger, urban voters through campaigns focused on accountability and national reform. While every party has its flaws, most maintained leadership structures that were not as tightly controlled by a single figure as MQM was by Altaf Hussain.
Altaf Hussain’s downfall was largely the result of his own politics of fear, inflexibility, and his inability to adapt to changing political realities. For years, he maintained control through emotional pressure, threats, and a strict command-and-control structure that allowed no dissent. This approach slowly isolated him, alienated supporters, and created deep rifts within the party.
As Karachi’s environment changed, people grew tired of fear-driven politics and demanded stability, development, and genuine representation. His uncompromising style, frequent controversial speeches, and refusal to share power pushed MQM into decline. In the end, the very fear-based politics that once kept him powerful became the reason he lost relevance and influence, both within the party and across Pakistan’s political landscape. This comparison is important because it highlights the dangers of emotionally charged and intolerant political cultures, something Pakistan has seen repeatedly.
It is not unusual for political workers in Pakistan to defend their leaders passionately, but PTI supporters have taken this passion to extreme levels. They often respond with personal attacks, abusive language, threats, and online harassment.
Over time, the behaviour of PTI supporters has grown more rigid and unforgiving. The first reaction of many PTI supporters to any criticism is to deny it immediately, without even listening to the argument. The second step is usually to label the critic as corrupt, biased, anti-Pakistani, or a paid agent. In their eyes, the critic cannot simply be a journalist doing their job or a citizen expressing an opinion. Instead, the critic must have bad intentions or an agenda against PTI. This mindset has made constructive political debate almost impossible in the country.
It is not unusual for political workers in Pakistan to defend their leaders passionately, but PTI supporters have taken this passion to extreme levels. They often respond with personal attacks, abusive language, threats, and online harassment. Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook have become battlegrounds where PTI supporters go after anyone who questions Imran Khan. Journalists are the most common targets. Many have received threats, abusive messages, and sometimes even physical intimidation for simply reporting facts that are not favourable to PTI. Some journalists have stopped expressing their views openly because the backlash is too overwhelming.
This behaviour is damaging in many ways. First, it shuts down the possibility of honest discussion. No democracy can function without criticism. Leaders must be questioned, policies must be examined, and wrong decisions must be highlighted. When supporters of a political leader refuse to accept any criticism, even when supported by evidence, they weaken the political system and encourage blind loyalty. Blind loyalty harms a country more than political opposition ever can. It means that a leader will not be held accountable by their own supporters, which creates room for mistakes, misuse of power, or decisions that harm the public.
Second, the aggressive reaction of PTI supporters creates fear among people who want to participate in discussions. Young writers, social media users, and analysts often hesitate before sharing their views because they know that hundreds of abusive comments, threats, and coordinated online campaigns may follow. When a society punishes people for speaking their minds, it slowly kills freedom of speech. Without free speech, no country can progress.
Third, the attitude of PTI supporters has deepened the political divide in Pakistan. They often see the world in black and white; either someone is with Imran Khan or against him. There is no space for nuance, middle ground, or balanced criticism. A person might support some of Imran Khan’s policies and disagree with others, but PTI supporters rarely allow this middle position. As a result, normal political disagreement becomes emotional warfare. This makes it harder for society to come together, especially during national crises.
Another worrying trend is that PTI supporters often rely on conspiracy theories to defend their leader. Instead of accepting facts that show wrongdoing or poor decision-making, they immediately assume that these facts are part of a larger conspiracy plotted by political opponents or foreign powers. Everything becomes a plot, and nothing is accepted as reality unless it favours PTI. This mindset hurts society because it prevents people from learning the truth and makes it easy for misinformation to spread. Once misinformation becomes normal, people stop trusting credible sources and instead follow whatever feels emotionally satisfying.
Journalists face the worst of this harsh behaviour. Their job requires them to report objectively, investigate wrongdoing, and question political leaders. But when they try to do this with Imran Khan or PTI, they are targeted aggressively. Some journalists have been branded as enemies of the state, agents of foreign governments, or corrupt mafia simply for reporting facts. This creates a chilling effect. When journalists feel unsafe or intimidated, they are less likely to report stories that are important for the public. A society where journalists are afraid cannot call itself free.
Supporters who truly love a leader should be able to support them when they are right and correct them when they are wrong
It is important to understand that journalists are not perfect. Like any profession, journalism has problems, biases, and individual mistakes. However, the solution is not to attack or silence journalists but to hold them accountable through professional standards and legal processes. PTI supporters often forget this distinction. Instead of pointing out factual errors in a civil manner, they prefer to humiliate, insult, and threaten journalists online. This behaviour reflects more on the supporters than on the journalists.
Another aspect of this rigidity is that PTI supporters often repeat the same arguments without verifying them. They rely on social media posts, emotional speeches, and selective information. When confronted with opposing evidence, they usually ignore it or reject it without explanation. The inability to engage with facts weakens their arguments and makes them dependent on anger rather than reasoning. A strong political movement needs thoughtful supporters who can debate intelligently, not those who simply react with emotion.
Many analysts believe that Imran Khan himself, intentionally or unintentionally, encouraged this mindset. His speeches often created strong divisions by calling his opponents thieves, corrupt, and enemies of the nation. While political rhetoric is common, his repeated emphasis on moral superiority convinced his supporters that criticising him was equal to supporting corruption. As a result, PTI supporters feel morally justified in attacking anyone who questions him. They believe they are defending the nation, even when their methods clearly harm the nation’s political culture.
The behaviour of PTI supporters also affects Imran Khan negatively. A leader benefits from honest feedback because it helps them improve. When supporters refuse to accept any criticism, the leader is surrounded only by praise, even when they make mistakes. This creates a dangerous environment where the leader becomes isolated from reality. Many of Imran Khan’s political and administrative failures during his time in office can be partly linked to the fact that his core supporters often dismissed criticism instead of analysing it.
Political maturity comes from acknowledging both achievements and mistakes. No leader, no matter how popular, is free from error. Supporters who truly love a leader should be able to support them when they are right and correct them when they are wrong. But PTI supporters often treat any admission of wrongdoing as betrayal. This behaviour prevents the party from evolving and improving.
Pakistan is facing many challenges: economic instability, security threats, social inequality, and climate change. To address these problems, the country needs unity, open discussion, and intellectual space. The behaviour of PTI supporters makes this difficult. When political workers consider their leader above criticism, they limit the nation’s ability to think clearly. Emotional loyalty may win social media battles, but it cannot solve real-world problems.
The way forward requires reflection from both sides. PTI supporters need to understand that criticism is not the enemy, and disagreement does not mean disloyalty. It is possible to respect Imran Khan while also acknowledging that he, like every human, can make mistakes. Journalists must continue their work bravely and maintain professional standards, even when facing abuse. Society must also learn to differentiate between constructive criticism and malicious attacks. Democracy grows stronger through open dialogue, not through blind devotion. The rigidity of PTI supporters may give them short-term emotional satisfaction, but it harms the country in the long run. A mature nation needs mature citizens, and that maturity begins with the simple act of allowing others to speak without fear.