Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister (2018-2022), remains a populist figure despite his conservatism and limited achievements. His female supporters have courageously faced jail time, representing a postfeminist politics tied to Khan’s narrative of Islamic sovereignty, victimhood, nationalism, and piety. My presentation explores the liberatory potential in the current wave of anti-army sentiment led by Khan but cautions that this may exacerbate other unresolved patriarchal contradictions, risking further harm to democracy, women’s rights, and human rights in the country.

Dr. Afiya Zia (Ph.D. Gender Studies) has held the Frank B Weeks chair as Visiting Professor of Feminist, Gender and Sexualities Studies (2021-2022) at Wesleyan University. She carries over 20 years of experience in research, teaching and activism in Pakistan and South Asia. Author of Faith and Feminism in Pakistan; Religious Agency or Secular Autonomy? (2018), she has contributed over two dozen peer-reviewed essays for scholarly journals/volumes.