Trump’s Gratitude, PTI’s Lobbying in America: Where Did the Dollars Fall?
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
The wheel of time turns swiftly, yet some questions remain constant—like a mirage, visible yet unattainable. When Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters launched a lobbying campaign in the United States, it was fueled by high hopes. Dreams were sold, narratives were crafted, and grand claims were made that American policy would be bent in Imran Khan’s favor. But today, as the harsh sunlight of reality shines upon this narrative, everything seems to have faded into obscurity.
It wasn’t long ago when PTI’s supporters in America vehemently protested, alleging that Imran Khan’s ouster was the result of a collusion between the U.S. establishment and the Pakistani military. The rhetoric of “conspiracy” was so meticulously woven that PTI workers in America took to the streets in large numbers. Demonstrations were held outside the Pakistani embassy in Washington, lobbying firms were hired, and fundraising campaigns were initiated. For months, the claim persisted that efforts were underway to counteract the Pakistani establishment and diplomatic circles in Washington, that meetings with U.S. congressmen were taking place, and that a shift in Washington’s policy toward PTI was imminent.
Millions of dollars were collected from the Pakistani-American community for this cause. Early signs of the campaign’s effectiveness appeared when a Capitol Hill event was organized—but only a handful of Congress members attended. Even then, PTI workers were shown illusions of grandeur. But now, as reality unfolds, it is clear that the lobbying efforts bore no real fruit.
Donald Trump’s recent speech in Congress has cemented the fact that the U.S. government still firmly stands with the Pakistani government and its military. Trump explicitly thanked the Pakistani administration, which currently operates in close collaboration with the country’s military institutions. If PTI’s lobbying had indeed been effective, there would have been, at the very least, some harsh remarks from the U.S. regarding Pakistan’s military establishment. Instead, the opposite has occurred.
This is the same Trump who once hurled accusations at Pakistan, yet today, he openly expresses gratitude toward its government. In his joint congressional address, Trump praised the role of Pakistan’s military institutions, specifically commending Pakistan’s assistance in capturing the mastermind behind a suicide attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan. This expression of gratitude is no trivial matter.
This is the same Trump who once vehemently criticized the Biden administration over the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the same Trump who previously questioned Pakistan’s security policies. Now, his sudden praise for Pakistan’s government signals a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. It is a major diplomatic indicator that Washington is strengthening ties with Pakistan’s military establishment. Trump’s statement has made one thing crystal clear: emotional rhetoric alone cannot alter the course of U.S. foreign policy.
The real question is—if PTI’s lobbying efforts in the U.S. had truly been successful, would Trump’s tone today have been any different? If the claims made by PTI’s American leadership had been truthful, would Washington still be standing alongside Pakistan’s military institutions? This is the moment when every PTI worker must confront a harsh reality.
Where did the millions of dollars raised in the name of lobbying go? Where are the so-called diplomatic victories that were promised? If PTI’s political strategy in the U.S. had been effective, why do Pakistan’s military institutions appear even stronger in Washington’s eyes?
This is not the first time PTI’s U.S. leadership has fallen silent in the face of financial irregularities while grassroots workers continue to demand answers. Reports have surfaced time and again that funds raised in PTI’s name were misused by certain individuals, yet each time, the storm of questions has dissipated like dust in the wind—leaving behind nothing but an eerie silence.
It is no longer a secret that connections were established with various lobbying firms in Washington, yet these efforts proved to be nothing more than a mirage—a deceptive reflection of water that, upon closer inspection, turned out to be mere sand. This is not the first instance where these so-called “sacred” funds have vanished into an unknown abyss, but it may be the first time that PTI workers are seeing the truth unfold so starkly before their eyes.
Those grand protests on Washington’s streets, those high-profile meetings within the halls of Congress, and those lobbying firms that were supposedly pushing PTI’s agenda—where are they now? All of it has dissipated into the sands of time, like the forgotten whispers of autumn leaves carried away by the wind. Was it all an illusion or reality? Perhaps only those who wielded power in the name of PTI, with eyes gleaming at the prospect of influence, truly know the answer. But the storm of questions from PTI’s workers is now sweeping across the silence, demanding answers.
Every PTI worker must now ask themselves:
• Was there ever any real lobbying?
• Did U.S. policy shift in PTI’s favor?
• Did Imran Khan benefit in any way from this campaign?
• And most importantly—where did all those donations go?
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s political and diplomatic landscape tells its own tale. A fresh wave of terrorism is emerging, raising the question: is this all part of a larger game? Is it merely a coincidence that, at a time when the U.S. is extending support to Pakistan’s military institutions, terrorism is also on the rise? Are extremist groups being reactivated for a broader agenda?
Regardless, these questions now stand engraved upon the sands of time. For PTI’s leadership, these are not just rhetorical musings but rather a mirror reflecting an inconvenient truth. If the party truly aspires to be a revolutionary force, it must first acknowledge its internal weaknesses. Otherwise, history will relegate PTI’s movement to just another unfulfilled dream.
Those who sat in the U.S., filling their coffers under PTI’s banner, can no longer hide behind veils of deception. The sacrifices made by PTI workers, the slogans raised in protests, and the flames of hope ignited in their hearts—all have faded into a shadowy abyss where only a select few have reaped the rewards.
But now, the storm of questions has begun to tear through the silence. The curtains have fallen, and the truth stands exposed. This is the moment PTI must confront its reality. If it truly seeks to establish a meaningful presence in America, a complete organizational overhaul is imperative. Those who exploited the loyalty and emotional dedication of the party’s workers must be held accountable—those who silenced the voices of truth with the lure of wealth.
This is a message to PTI’s workers: awaken or remain mere spectators in the grand theater of time. The choice is yours. Will you allow yourselves to be buried in the desert of silence, or will you rise and let the storm of truth carry your voice?
Because if questions are not asked today, if accountability is not demanded now, then remember—when dollars rain down, they always fall upon a select patch of land. And that land may not be yours—it may belong to someone else.
