Violence
LAHORE: The Lahore police have registered a case against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur under 13 different provisions, including the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
This follows an incident of violence near the Sialkot Interchange while Gandapur was en route to Lahore to attend Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) rally on September 21, which government officials later dismissed as a failure.
PTI, the party founded by Imran Khan, organized a public rally in Lahore that ended abruptly after local authorities intervened.
Police officials stormed the stage, cutting off the microphone and lights, forcing PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other party leaders to leave the venue.
This action was taken because the rally exceeded the 6 pm deadline set by the no-objection certificate (NOC) granted by the district administration.
Gandapur, often described as a “firebrand” leader, was leading a convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but failed to arrive at the rally before the expiration of the deadline.
However, he eventually reached the venue and addressed the crowd briefly. His convoy reportedly included rescue 1122 ambulances and heavy machinery, meant to remove any roadblocks along their way.
A video later surfaced on social media, showing Gandapur smashing the window of a truck with his rifle, further escalating tensions. This led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) at the Manawa Police Station, in which Gandapur was charged with 13 offenses, including attempted murder.
The FIR stated that the chief minister led an armed mob at the Sialkot Interchange and allegedly ordered them to set vehicles parked at a toll plaza on fire.
The FIR also detailed that the mob, armed with an AK-47, resisted police efforts to control the situation, while Gandapur and other leaders advanced during the chaos. Two police officers were injured during the violent confrontation.
This incident follows Gandapur’s refusal to apologize for his provocative speech at the Islamabad rally on September 8. During that rally, he declared, “I owe no apology for any wrongdoing, nor am I a slave to the Punjab government or anyone else.”
Addressing PTI workers via video link, Gandapur questioned why he should apologize, adding that the authorities should instead apologize to him for arresting party founder Imran Khan.
He also announced that PTI’s next rallies would take place in Mianwali and Rawalpindi in the coming weeks.
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