Silence on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's personal X account is being viewed within the party as a potentially positive development that could help lower political tensions with the establishment. Khan's personal X account, @ImranKhanPTI, has not carried a fresh message attributed directly to him for more than five months. Its last such message was dated March 21, 2026, when a statement from Khan was posted after his sons spoke to him on the phone.
The prolonged gap is notable because Khan's social-media account had previously been used in a confrontational manner, particularly against the military's top leadership. During periods of heightened political confrontation, messages attributed to him appeared regularly and were rapidly amplified by PTI's official social-media network. However, such messaging furthered the gap between the PTI and the establishment.
Many within the PTI, who wanted to bridge the gap between Imran Khan and the establishment, were upset because such messages were often sharply critical of the military leadership. The situation reached a particularly tense point in December 2025, when the military publicly accused Khan of using prison visitors and social media to attack the armed forces and create divisions. Earlier, Khan's sister met him in jail and conveyed his criticism.
The issue of meetings with Khan subsequently became a major point of confrontation between the PTI and the authorities. The government maintained that political discussions were taking place during jail visits and that Khan was continuing political activity from prison through visitors. PTI insiders now believe that the continued absence of frequent, direct messages from Khan could potentially help create a better political atmosphere.
According to party sources, the reduction in highly confrontational messaging, particularly criticism directed at the army and its top leadership, could provide some space for political normalisation between the PTI and the establishment. The sources, however, stressed that this should not be interpreted as evidence of a political deal or an understanding between Khan and the establishment. Rather, they see the quieter messaging environment as something that could help create conditions for normal politics if it continues.