Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram clarified that the party did not finance a full-page advertisement in The New York Times advocating for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, detained for over 700 days.
The ad, published on August 2, alleges “unjust detention,” inhumane conditions, and suppression of dissent, urging U.S. intervention through Global Magnitsky sanctions and support for civilian supremacy in Pakistan.
Despite denying funding, PTI-affiliated accounts heavily promoted the ad. PTI USA’s X handle shared, “The Pakistani diaspora placed a full-page ad in a leading U.S. newspaper to highlight Imran Khan’s arbitrary and inhumane imprisonment.” The main PTI account in Pakistan retweeted posts, including one by analyst Hussain Nadim: “Their wish is to make Imran Khan irrelevant; ours is to ensure it remains a wish.” PTI USA President Sajjad Burki praised First Pakistan Global and the Pakistani-American diaspora for the initiative, timed before PTI’s August 5 nationwide protests.
From "Absolutely No America" to "Ad-solutely Pls America" PTI, Goldsmiths and Company have tried to swing, sway and manipulate public and policy sentiment to portray Imran as a victim. This too shall not go very far.
Ps: It's a paid Ad and NOT an Oped. And Trump hates NYT pic.twitter.com/qIZc1lLG8P
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) August 3, 2025Debate Over Funding and Sovereignty
The ad’s cost, estimated at tens of thousands of dollars via AI chatbots and rate sheets, sparked intense online debate. Supporters view it as a powerful move to globalise Khan’s cause, while critics, including journalist Syed Talat Hussain, tweeted: “From ‘Absolutely No America’ to ‘Ad-solutely Pls America’, PTI tries to sway sentiment. It’s a paid ad, not an op-ed.” Critics argue the appeal to U.S. intervention undermines Pakistan’s sovereignty, a sentiment echoed by rival factions criticising PTI’s reliance on external validation over domestic democratic processes.
The controversy highlights PTI’s strategy to internationalise Khan’s detention while raising questions about funding transparency and national sovereignty. The ad’s impact could shape public and diplomatic perceptions ahead of PTI’s protests.
