Imran Khan Joins TikTok – Here’s Why
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and leader of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has recently joined the popular short-video sharing platform TikTok. The move is seen as a strategic initiative to amplify his public engagement and improve his communication channels, particularly targeting the younger demographic.
Khan’s political journey witnessed a significant shift last year when he lost his seat in a no-confidence vote, which followed several allegations of corruption and mismanagement. His political crisis further intensified after the incidents of May 9th when followers of his party were implicated in attacks on military facilities. These incidents culminated in a significant blow to his party’s reputation, with many PTI leaders distancing themselves from the group.
In a concerted effort to navigate these challenges, Khan turned to the influential world of social media. His decision to join TikTok, one of the most successful and widely used social media platforms among younger generations, met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Khan’s TikTok account amassed a whopping 2 Million followers within 26 hours, underscoring his enduring popularity among certain segments of the population.
ٹک ٹاک پر صرف 26 گھنٹوں میں 2 ملین فالوورز۔ ہم حقیقی معنوں میں عمران خان کے دور میں جی رہے ہیں۔ #ووٹ_صرف_خان_کا pic.twitter.com/jdKQIyetGh
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2023
Khan’s inaugural TikTok video features snippets from his public addresses and meetings, providing an engaging blend of political narrative and personal charisma. Acknowledging the power of TikTok in the video description, Khan stated, “Our social media team has shared with me impressive TikTok videos created by the younger generation, even those residing in remote areas.” He further added, “I’ve decided to engage on this platform to connect more closely with everyone.”
The news about Khan’s new social media venture quickly trended on Twitter, with PTI announcing that their leader’s TikTok account had reached the 2 Million followers milestone within the first three hours of its creation. The news provoked mixed reactions, with supporters applauding Khan’s innovative approach to reaching out to his followers while critics interpreted it as a desperate attempt to salvage his dented public image.
Nevertheless, the impact of Khan’s new social media strategy remains to be seen. Some political analysts suggest that his decision to tap into the world of TikTok might give his political career a new lease of life. Others, however, believe that it would take more than a social media campaign to rectify the political missteps and legal entanglements that have marred his leadership in recent times.
