FRAMING POLITICAL NARRATIVES IN PAKISTAN (2018-2024): A CORPUS-ASSISTED DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL SPEECHES OF PM IMRAN KHAN IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Abstract

Political narratives are carefully crafted stories that politicians and parties use to influence how people see events, policies, or leaders. These narratives help shape public opinion by offering a particular version of reality. At the same time, media framing plays a powerful role in deciding how these messages are shared and understood. Because speeches are more than just words they're strategic tools political leaders use them to control the story, while the media acts as a filter, often reshaping these messages to fit broader ideological, editorial, or commercial agendas. In Pakistan, from 2018 to 2024, this study has applied a Corpus-Assisted Discourse Analysis (CADA) to systematically analyze linguistic patterns, key themes, and rhetorical strategies used in political speeches and their corresponding media coverage. The study investigates how political leaders framed his governance, opposition, and post-ouster political struggles and how media narratives either reinforced or countered those discourses. By examining speech transcripts, media reports, and digital content from key platforms, this research uncovers evolving trends in political rhetoric, media bias, and digital amplification of political messages. It also explores the role of social media in challenging or reshaping mainstream narratives, highlighting its growing influence in Pakistan’s political landscape. The deep analysis of the research reveals significant shifts in narrative framing, illustrating the strategic use of language, populist appeals, and ideological positioning in political communication. The study contributes to the understanding of discourse strategies in contemporary Pakistani politics, offering insights into the dynamic interplay between political actors and media representation in the digital era.