On Sunday, PTI leader Asad Qaiser accused the government of detaining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from KP House in Islamabad. He warned that if Gandapur is not presented within 24 hours, PTI would launch a nationwide protest. Qaiser claimed Gandapur was abducted, referencing damage inside KP House as evidence. He emphasized this as an attack on the entire nation, not just PTI, adding that over 1,000 party workers had been arrested.
Qaiser stated PTI’s commitment to peaceful protests, exercising constitutional rights. A large number of PTI supporters had already reached Islamabad in response to Imran Khan’s call for a peaceful protest. Despite conflicting statements regarding Gandapur’s arrest, KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Saif clarified that while Gandapur had not been formally detained, security forces were present at KP House.
The KP Assembly held an emergency session delayed by Gandapur’s disappearance, where PTI members demanded his release and decried the police raid on KP House. Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi presented a resolution calling for Gandapur’s return, which was unanimously passed. He alleged that federal authorities orchestrated Gandapur’s abduction.
During the assembly session, PTI MPA Dr. Amjad Ali recounted security force confrontations faced by PTI protesters en route to Islamabad. He claimed security forces attacked them with tear gas, causing injuries. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi refuted claims of Gandapur’s arrest, saying there was no evidence of his detention.
The Islamabad High Court has since ordered authorities to allow PTI to protest and restore normalcy in the city. Meanwhile, the PML-N criticized the state’s failure to label PTI a terrorist organization and urged for decisive action. PTI has extended its protest indefinitely, awaiting further instructions from Imran Khan.
