POWER AND RESISTANCE IN IMRAN KHAN’S OPEN LETTER: ANALYZING METAPHORS AND MODALITY

Abstract

Political discourse is one of the most powerful instruments for the negotiation of authority and dissent. In Pakistan’s hybrid political system where military influence has historically shaped civilian governance language becomes a site of ideological struggle. This study employs Fairclough’s (1992) Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework to examine Imran Khan’s open letter (3 February 2025) addressed to Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. The letter, written during a period of political tension, is analyzed to uncover how metaphors and modality encode discursive constructions of power, resistance, and legitimacy. Through systematic metaphor identification (Pragglejaz Group, 2007) and modality analysis (Simpson, 1993), the study reveals that metaphors such as “stolen mandate,” “puppet government,” and “ship of state” frame the military as a manipulative actor and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as a moral defender of democracy. Modality choices particularly deontic (“must,” “should”) and epistemic (“clearly,” “undoubtedly”) forms are used to assert authority, signal moral obligation, and legitimize political defiance. The analysis demonstrates how language performs ideological work, positioning Khan as both victim and resistor of military dominance. The findings contribute to broader debates on political discourse, populism, and resistance in postcolonial democracies, offering a linguistic window into how power is represented and contested in Pakistan’s contemporary political landscape.