Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed to free former Prime Minister Imran Khan from prison, threatening to “take matters into our own hands” if he is not released within the next two weeks.
Gandapur made these pronouncements at a massive rally organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Sangjani, Islamabad, on Sunday.
The rally saw a massive turnout of PTI supporters, with convoys from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa converging on the venue. Gandapur’s arrival was met with thunderous applause from the crowd.
In his fiery speech, Gandapur lashed out at the current government, accusing them of “violating the constitution” and “trampling on the law.” He declared that raising one’s voice against “oppressive rulers” was a “jihad,” and vowed to continue this fight.
Gandapur also questioned the granting of a ‘NRO’ to those who he claimed had “looted billions of rupees.” He asserted that Imran Khan had already won by being imprisoned, while those who put him there were “humiliated.” He emphasized that PTI stood with Khan because he was fighting for “truth,” and warned that if the “oppression” didn’t end, they would “sacrifice their lives” for the cause.
Addressing the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gandapur said that their claims of not being involved in politics were “hollow,” as they were “interfering” in the political process. He also questioned the recent contact between former DG ISI, General Faiz Hameed, and the current government, asking if he was “inherited” by them. He demanded that the military “fix their own institution” and “fix their own generals.”
Gandapur went on to say that he and his party had appointed General Faiz to key positions, and that any wrongdoings by him would be held against the current government, while any good deeds would be credited to them. He stressed that the military was “our army” and that they would “fix it” if necessary.
Regarding future plans, Gandapur announced that the PTI would hold its next rally in Lahore, regardless of any permission required. He warned the current government not to “mess with them,” threatening to “make them forget Bangladesh” if they did.
He also stated that Imran Khan’s legal cases had been closed and that he should be released within one to two weeks. If this didn’t happen, he vowed to “free him ourselves,” adding that he would be the first to “take a bullet” for the cause. He urged his supporters not to back down, as they would never get another opportunity like this with a leader like Imran Khan.
Gandapur concluded his speech by threatening to “arrest” those responsible for Imran Khan’s imprisonment, stating that he had “many cases” against them. He asserted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was under Imran Khan’s rule, and that he would soon be released.
