Supporters of PTI entered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Sunday in protest against the “disappearance” of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. They reached the august house hours after the government issued a notification for the assembly’s “emergency session.” But it has been delayed.
PTI followers chanted slogans in favour of Gandapur and demanded party founder Imran Khan’s release.
A meeting of the PTI parliamentary party was also held where members gathered to discuss “critical decisions.”
Sources within the party said that the leaders discussed a “unanimous resolution” that would be presented in the assembly. The future course of action was also deliberated. After speeches from the assembly members, the resolution would be presented.
Party leaders instructed the KP Assembly speaker to “exercise his authority.”
Advisor on Information to the KP CM Muhammad Ali Saif alleged that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s claims that he was unaware of the provincial chief minister’s disappearance were “nothing but theatrics.”
He accused Naqvi was being responsible for the CM’s enforced disappearance and questioned whom they were “trying to fool.”
Saif pointed out that the timeline for the CM’s arrival at the KP House has been documented, but there was no information about his departure. He also raised concerns about Gandapur’s change of clothes and questioned where the Rangers and Islamabad Police were during the development, stating that he did not even appear in front of the media while leaving.
Opposition Leader in the KP Assembly Ibadullah Khan stated that it was not the first time that CM Gandapur went missing as he recalled the Sangjiani rally when the latter could not be contacted after his speech.
He noted that previously when Gandapur disappeared, there was no information provided about it. He added that the KP CM had also been absent for eight hours recently, claiming that no one had arrested the CM. “Now, no one knows where the chief minister is. The same drama that happened before is still ongoing,” he said.
Ibadullah criticised Gandapur for leaving his workers behind to go to the KP House, alleging that he was enjoying cakes and pastries elsewhere. “Should I condemn him for eating pastries?” he questioned.
The opposition leader pointed out that the assembly session had been postponed until Monday, October 7 and questioned the purpose of suddenly calling a meeting on a holiday. He claimed that only PTI issues were being addressed, not public concerns.
He added that the CM should first manage his own constituency, let alone the province. He questioned the leadership style of someone who responds to violence with violence, stating, “What message are we sending when there are protests at D-Chowk while an international delegation is in Pakistan?”
Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser condemned the “violence against media” during the PTI rally on Saturday.
“It has never happened that a Chief Minister has been made to disappear. There was vandalism at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House and we protested against what happened on Saturday,” he told reporters outside the KP Assembly.
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He demanded the “immediate” release of Gandapur, asserting, “This is not just an attack on Ali Amin but an attack on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We will not back down and are willing to go to any extent.”
Qaiser also stated the PTI protests would continue. “We want to conduct our struggle peacefully. Our MNAs should not be pressured into compliance. We have resolved not to participate in any legislation or standing committee meetings. We support Jamaat-e-Islami’s protests against Israeli atrocities, and we will join any session addressing these issues. If we do not stand up, it will be difficult to protect anyone’s rights.”
He announced that if Gandapur was not released within 24 hours, the party would launch nationwide protests.
