Religion in Pakistani Politics: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Speeches of Imran Khan

This paper examines the complex nexus of religion and politics in the country of Pakistan by looking at the religious appeal in Imran Khan’s political speeches after his removal from power on April 10, 2022. The research investigates ten selected speeches using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Teun A. Van Dijk’s Ideological Square Model (ISM) with the aim to understand the way Khan constructs Islamic political identities in order to gain support and influence public opinion. The methodology involves qualitative content analysis, where speeches were transcribed from video recordings and analyzed for explicit and implicit religious themes. The results suggest that Khan uses religion to polarize the ‘us’ versus ‘them’ narrative, creating a self-reinforcing identity based on national pride and religion that distinguishes his supporters from his political opponents. His rhetoric not only seeks to rationalize his political objectives but attempts to appeal to his audience’s emotions which subsequently increases his control as a leader. The highlights of this research show the leveraging of religion as a discourse in influence the support base of political leaders in Pakistan. Ultimately, this study contributes to the understanding of how religious rhetoric can influence public opinion and political identity, emphasizing the need for further exploration into the intersection of religion and politics in contemporary societies. The research underscores the potential for religious language to both unite and polarize, calling for careful consideration of its use in political communication to foster social harmony rather than division.