A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL POLARIZATION IN PAKISTAN THROUGH X DISCOURSE OF IMRAN KHAN

Abstract

This study critically examines the role of social media in shaping political polarization during the premier tenure of Imran Khan from 2018 to 2022 with a focus on the impact of polarization on the X users in Pakistan. As social media platforms increasingly construct political communication, its role in reinforcing ideological divides in Pakistan remains underexplored. The primary objectives of the study are to indicate the linguistic and rhetorical elements in Imran Khan’s X discourse that construct political polarization and to analyse how these elements align with broader political party strategies to shape public perception. Ideology Square model of Teun A. van Dijk has been used as a theoretical framework to explore the linguistic choices and rhetorical strategies of political leaders and their supporters to emphasize and reinforce in-group positive features and out-group negative attributes. The findings of the study highlight a consistent emotionally charged rhetorical elements, strategic omission and ideological framing, which collectively deepen social division and reinforce digital echo chambers. The X-posts of Imran Khan’s political discourse are performative, shaping public opinion and amplifying adversarial attitudes. Furthermore, X users interaction highlights that political leaders’ digital narratives significantly influence public discourse and identity construction.