Imran Khan’s Ideological Foundations: Riyasat-e-Madina, Strategic Autonomy, and the Vision of “Naya Pakistan”

Abstract

This study examines Imran Khan’s ideological concept and foundation of Naya Pakistan. This article analyzes his concept that is based on four interconnected pillars. Firstly, the Riyasat-e-Madina model is examined that was based on ethical framework of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W’s way of government in early Islam that prioritized welfare, equity, and governmental responsibility and accountability. Secondly, a Non-Alignment 2.0, that was a plan for strategic autonomy and a balanced approach towards global powers while safeguarding national sovereignty. Third pillar was Islamic unity, which is defined as one Ummah politically and ethically that impacts diplomatic relations and identity politics. Lastly, the humanitarian and anti-corruption viewpoints, which shaped his global and domestic politics, based on ethical accountability, social equity, and opposition to systemic injustices. This article is an attempt to answer the question that how Imran Khan developed an ideological framework that connected Islamic moral values with Pakistan’s governance as well as foreign policy direction from 2018 to 2022? To answer this, the article highlights Khan’s political narrative that was a methodical ideological pursuit rather than a simply populist objective. This study is based on a qualitative methodology based on discourse analysis of official speeches of PTI, Khan’s international addresses, policy declarations of party, and pertinent academic literature to investigate themes and normative assumptions. This article asserts that the concept of Naya Pakistan amalgamated Islamic principles’ ethics with practical governance. This fact presented a unique ideological framework designed to reshape national identity of Pakistan and its position in a changing global landscape.