ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has urged citizens to confront officials who solicit bribes by delivering a firm blow with a brick to their heads while invoking his name.
Speaking at Syed Aliyan village in Dera Ismail Khan, CM Gandapur emphasized that both bribe takers and givers are destined for damnation, urging locals not to hesitate in dealing with such individuals themselves.
“Administer a brick to the bribe-seeker’s head and inform their offspring that you’ve spared their father from eternal damnation,” Gandapur urged. He stressed the importance of public shame and immediate retribution against bribery.
A member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party known for his outspoken demeanor, CM Gandapur assumed office as the 19th chief minister of the province, securing a two-thirds majority in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly earlier this month.
In his inaugural address, the CM pledged to root out corruption from government ranks and establish a transparent and accountable administration.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, an anti-terrorism court’s recent issuance of warrants for 12 leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has escalated tensions surrounding events that transpired on May 9. The court, presided over by Judge Malik Ijaz, has mandated the appearance of two suspects before it on April 2, signaling a decisive move in the legal proceedings.
Among the prominent figures implicated in this judicial action are Shahbaz Gill, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, Murad Saeed, Shabbir Awan, Shireen Mazari, and Shibli Faraz. These warrants stem from a case registered at the City Police Station, initiated upon the application submitted by SHO Aftab Ahmed, reflecting a legal response to the alleged events of May 9.
In reaction to the court’s decision, PTI Chairman Gohar Khan voiced defiance, asserting the party’s intent to contest the ruling and vehemently dismissing the charges as baseless fabrications.
Khan’s critique extended to the federal government, which he accused of “losing its senses” and resorting to what he deemed retaliatory measures. He further lambasted the current administration, alleging that they had unlawfully usurped power, undermining the democratic mandate bestowed upon them by the people.
The issuance of these warrants underscores the simmering political tensions and legal complexities within Pakistan’s political landscape. Beyond the immediate legal ramifications, the development has ramifications for the broader political climate, potentially exacerbating existing rifts and fueling allegations of government overreach or political persecution.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
