KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur warns of continued PTI protests until demands are met
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed to escalate Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protests against the federal government, declaring that his party will persist in “attacks” until its demands are addressed. His remarks follow the abrupt end of PTI’s recent “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad after a government crackdown.
In a press conference, CM Gandapur compared PTI’s struggle to historic battles, asserting, “We will continue launching attacks like the battle of Panipat. We will conquer if demands are not met.” Alluding to Mahmud of Ghazni’s destruction of the Somnath temple, he joked that if the ruling coalition became the “idol of Somnath,” PTI would “attack them 17 times,” having so far launched five such “attacks.”
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The ongoing protests center on PTI’s demand for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who remains jailed. During the Islamabad protest, law enforcement cleared the Red Zone in a crackdown that saw PTI leadership, including CM Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, retreat from the scene.
Imran Khan, addressing the crackdown, has called for a “civil disobedience” movement if the government does not comply with his demands. He has proposed a five-member committee, including CM Gandapur, to negotiate with the government. The committee seeks the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and the recent crackdown on PTI protesters.
CM Gandapur accused the government of imposing Section 245 to target PTI supporters, claiming 12 of them were killed and 107 remain missing. He also blamed Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for instigating unrest, alleging they “want civil war in the country by spreading hatred.”
Addressing the prospect of a civil disobedience movement, Gandapur clarified that a final decision is pending as negotiations continue “for the sake of the country.”
Separately, the CM criticized KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, dismissing an all-parties conference (APC) hosted by the governor to address recent tribal clashes in Kurram district. PTI boycotted the APC, with Gandapur describing Kundi as “a useless person.” The clashes had resulted in 133 deaths and 186 injuries.
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