Islamabad 15 August: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has emerged as the most popular political leader in a recent Republic Policy Think Tank survey conducted in Lahore, securing a commanding 56% approval rating among respondents.
The survey, which measured the popularity of mainstream political leaders, placed PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in second position with 17%, followed by Hafiz Saad at 4%, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at 3%, and Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman at 2%. An additional 2% expressed preference for other leaders, while 16% said they do not support any political figure.
The think tank emphasized that accurate measurement of political popularity should be based on the collective standing of all leaders within a party, rather than tallying individual figures separately, as this could distort comparative results.
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The findings reflect PTI’s continued strong voter base in Punjab’s capital despite political and legal challenges faced by its leadership. PML-N, while significantly behind, maintains a substantial presence in the city, which remains a key battleground in upcoming elections. PPP’s relatively low share suggests limited urban traction, whereas religious political figures like Hafiz Saad and Hafiz Naeem command niche but notable followings.
With Lahore being a political stronghold that often influences national electoral trends, the survey results provide an early indication of voter sentiment ahead of Pakistan’s next general elections.
