Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday warned of continuing “attacks” against the incumbent government following the abrupt end of PTI’s much-anticipated “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad, which was dispersed after a crackdown on party supporters.
In a fiery press conference, CM Gandapur declared, “We will keep launching attacks like the battle of Panipat. We will prevail if our demands are not met.”
Referring to the 11th-century destruction of the Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni, the CM humorously added that if the current rulers became the “idol of Somnath,” PTI would strike them 17 times to shatter their hold.
“We have launched only five attacks so far and will continue until the rest are carried out,” he said, referencing the PTI’s march on Islamabad demanding the release of jailed PTI leader Imran Khan.
The statement came after the PTI leadership, including Gandapur and Bushra Bibi (Imran Khan’s wife), disappeared during the November 26-27 crackdown to clear Islamabad’s Red Zone of protesters.
Meanwhile, imprisoned party leader Imran Khan warned the government on Friday of launching a “civil disobedience” movement if his demands were not met, including a judicial probe into the crackdown on party supporters. Khan also announced the formation of a five-member negotiation committee, which would include Gandapur, to discuss the release of “political prisoners” and the creation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and the late-night crackdown on PTI protesters in November.
CM Gandapur also accused the government of killing PTI supporters after imposing Section 245. “12 of our supporters have been killed, and 107 others are still missing,” he said, expressing concern about the whereabouts of his party’s supporters.
He blamed the PPP and PML-N for instigating the crackdown and spreading hatred, warning that these actions could lead to civil war.
When asked about the PTI’s stance on civil disobedience, Gandapur clarified that a final decision had not been made, noting that negotiations were still ongoing. “We are negotiating for the sake of the country,” he added.
On the issue of a recent APC hosted by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi over deadly clashes in Kurram, Gandapur dismissed it, saying, “The governor is a useless person. I curse his APC.”
It is important to note that PTI boycotted the APC called by Governor Kundi in response to the tribal clashes, which have resulted in at least 133 deaths and 186 injuries.
