The global popularity of the "Third Way" during the Musharraf era led to the rise of a new Pakistani political bloc focused on centrism, deviating from the traditional dominance of the centre-left PPP and the centre-right PML–N.

With a claimed membership of over 10 million in Pakistan in 2012,[4] the PTI appealed to many former PPP voters, particularly in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, due to its outlook on populism.

After Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007 and Nawaz Sharif returned from self-exile in Saudi Arabia, pressure increased upon President Musharraf to hold democratic elections.

[48] But the policy of Madrassah reforms, especially funding Darul Uloom Haqqania renowned for its links with Taliban and killers of Benazir Bhutto was criticised by many.

[51][52] PTI's Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak began infrastructure projects to build dams which aimed to limit flooding and provide small scale electricity in remote areas.

[53] Khattak carried out healthcare reforms such as introducing Health Insurance Scheme, Sehat Sahulat Program[54][55] for poor people and an 'Insulin for life' fund.

[60] On 14 August 2014, Imran Khan led a rally of supporters from Lahore to Islamabad, demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation and investigation into alleged electoral fraud.

[64]By September 2014, PTI entered into a de facto alliance with Canadian-Pakistani cleric Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and his Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT); both aimed to mobilise their supporters for regime change.

PTI’s campaign gained confidence after its biggest opponent, Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) fell to major corruption allegations following the Panama Papers Case.

Imran Khan and PTI made several key appointments and nominations for national and provincial level public office holders as the winning party.

[93] The PTI federal government faced criticism on certain comments and policies but retained praise for handling the COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan,[94] uplifting the economy and reducing financial deficit.

[95][96] An austerity drive and a number of welfare programs were also set up by the PTI government to create a social safety net under the party’s flagship Ehsaas Programme and Sehat Insaf Card.

[104] Punjab Police, using geo-fencing reports, alleged that Imran Khan and key PTI leaders coordinated efforts to incite attacks on the residence of the Lahore corps commander and other sensitive locations.

Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar confirmed the use of geo-fencing to trace these communications, naming Imran Khan as a prime suspect in orchestrating the attacks.

[107][108][109] A detailed order from Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Khalid Arshad implicated PTI's founder, Imran Khan, in orchestrating attacks on military installations, government properties, and police officials.

The order revealed that Khan had instructed PTI leaders to create chaos and exert pressure for his release if arrested, as testified by two prosecution witnesses.

[113] In 2024 Khan also endorsed Army Corps Commanders' statement for a May 9 probe, calling for severe punishment and added CCTV footage should be used for identification, saying "[n]either we are anti-army nor want a clash with forces".

[124][125][126] A crackdown was also initiated on vocal women supporters of PTI - the most prominent of which was Khadija Shah, a businesswoman and granddaughter of former Pakistani Army Chief, Asif Nawaz Janjua.

[38][144][145] On 20 February 2024, PTI announced political alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM),[146] in a bid to claim its share of reserved seats in the national, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.

[7] PTI promised to crack down on police brutality, restructure the civil service, reform the electoral system, allow for a truly independent judiciary, decentralise state power, and enforce laws which extend personal liberty.

[29] In March 2012,[166] PTI announced plans to conduct US-style intra-party elections, aiming to introduce local caucuses on district levels throughout the country.

IRW was founded in 2009[180] for addressing issues within its area of expertise, covering socio-political, information technology, economics, energy, healthcare, corruption, foreign affairs, education, and environment sectors.

[191] On 8 August 2023, Dewan Sachanand was expelled from the PTI for violating party discipline when he voted for Rana Ansar, a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P), to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly.

[195][196] At a PTI rally in Swabi, Marwat made controversial remarks, which prompted multiple internal complaints and led to the revocation of his basic membership.

[209] On 24 April, Khan addressed rallies in Nankana Sahib District, Sheikhupura, and Pattoki, where he announced that once in power, no parliamentarian would receive development funds as they are misused for achieving political gains.

He promised to end the system of tyranny and announced that once in power, he would enact laws allowing every village or town to elect its own Station House Officer, believing it would prevent corruption and police brutality.

[215] On 28 April, Khan moved to central Punjab where he addressed large rallies in Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, and Sargodha, promising to bring justice and equality to Pakistan.

[218] On 1 and 2 March, Khan addressed gatherings in Sibi, Loralai, Zafarwal, Pasrur, Narowal, Jacobabad, and also led a car rally in Rawalpindi.

PTI's only significant showing in interior Sindh was in the constituencies of NA-228 Umerkot and NA-230 Tharparkar, where the party's vice president, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has a considerable following through his spiritual Ghousia Jamaat.

His tribunal expelled Secretary-General Jahangir Tareen, PTI's KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, and senior leader Nadir Laghari for manipulating intra-party polls.