Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) ,a party of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan in the United States, under the leadership of Atif Khan, has recently enlisted the services of a new public relations and lobbying firm. The decision aims to actively monitor the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, scheduled for February 8, 2024, and engage with US and international media.
Atif Khan, appointed as a PTI Core Committee member by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, disclosed this information during an online session on X (formerly Twitter) with Sher Afzal Marwat and Dr Moeed Pirzada. Emphasizing his prior role as a member of Imran Khan Task Force and focal person for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Atif Khan outlined the party’s strategic approach.
The PTI USA has entered a three-month contract with the PR firm dedicated to election monitoring and observation in Pakistan. The firm’s primary focus is to identify and highlight any irregularities in the electoral process and communicate them to the American media. Atif Khan revealed, “Our PR firm is working closely with 10 organizations,” underscoring the commitment to transparency.
In a separate initiative, a new lobbying firm has been engaged specifically for “election monitoring and human rights violations.” This three-month contract aims to elevate occurrences in Pakistan to global attention. Atif Khan, leveraging overseas volunteer workers, asserted, “We will make all that is happening in Pakistan world news.” He also expressed concern over the perceived indifference of the US administration and the State Department regarding human rights violations in Pakistan.
Speculation has arisen regarding the potential involvement of the newly hired US-based PR firm and lobbying group in the recent article penned by Imran Khan for The Economist. In the article, the former premier accused the US government and the Pakistani military of orchestrating his removal from power due to his refusal to allow foreign bases inside Pakistan.
This move follows the PTI’s earlier engagement with American consultancy firm Grenier Consulting LLC, led by Robert Laurent Grenier, former CIA station chief in Islamabad. The PTI, both in power and post-removal in April 2022, continues to strategically leverage PR and lobbying services to influence narratives and engage with the international community.
