Minus-One Formula’s Failure Is Government’s Failure, Opposition’s Success: Hamid Mir
Sanaullah Nagra (@) | September 24, 2026
Those in power believed Imran Khan would disappear from politics after being jailed, but Pakistan’s politics now revolves around him, according to senior journalist Hamid Mir.
He stated that the government's perceived failure with the "minus-one formula" is actually a success for the opposition. Those in authority had hoped to remove Imran Khan from politics by jailing him, but this does not seem to be happening. Both the government and the entire opposition are now focused on keeping him incarcerated.
Imran Khan remains a popular figure, not only in Pakistan but internationally.
Mir further observed that the end of deal-making and power politics in Pakistan is drawing near. He criticized previously "democratic" parties for adapting to these practices as a means to survive. These same parties now find themselves on the defensive following Imran Khan's arrest, with international human rights organizations condemning his imprisonment.
According to Mir, Imran Khan has abandoned power politics while in jail over the past two years. Even members of his own party had been engaged in these tactics until recently, but Imran Khan has put an end to them as well.