Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reappeared in the provincial assembly on Sunday after a daylong disappearance, refuting claims of his arrest during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests in Islamabad. Gandapur, in a fiery speech, clarified that he had been at the KP House throughout the protests, despite police raids.
“Police raided the KP House multiple times,” Gandapur said while addressing the assembly. “Listen, IG [Inspector-General of Police], I was there the whole night.”
His disappearance occurred after PTI attempted to hold a protest in Islamabad, despite the imposition of Section 144, which restricts public gatherings. PTI has been rallying for the independence of the judiciary and the release of their party founder, Imran Khan, who has been jailed for over a year.
Accusations of Government Overreach and Attacks on PTI
Gandapur accused the government of targeting PTI, alleging that authorities had kidnapped party members and forced them to leave the party. He also condemned the raids on KP House, calling them a direct attack on the province’s autonomy and its properties.
“They thought we couldn’t reach D-Chowk, but we did,” he said, praising PTI workers for their support of Imran Khan. Gandapur also vowed to file an FIR against the Islamabad IGP for the alleged misconduct during the raids, demanding an apology.
Criticism of Public Gathering Restrictions
The KP chief minister criticized the government for restricting PTI’s ability to hold public gatherings, especially in Lahore. “Why are they so afraid?” Gandapur questioned, adding that they had even been denied permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Allegations of a ‘Staged Drama’
In response to Gandapur’s claims, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar dismissed the chief minister’s disappearance as a “staged drama,” accusing him of abandoning a violent rally and spreading misinformation. Tarar questioned why Gandapur disrupted law and order in Islamabad, which allegedly led to the death of a police constable.
Clarification from the Federal Government
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi clarified that Gandapur was not in the custody of any federal institution. While admitting that police had raided the KP House, Naqvi said the chief minister had fled before they arrived. Despite Gandapur’s reappearance, the federal government reiterated that he remains a wanted figure for the federal capital police.
A Call for Reform
Gandapur concluded his speech by calling on all political parties and institutions to “reform themselves” and avoid abandoning principles for personal gain. He emphasized that PTI would continue to stand firm against government overreach and defend its right to peaceful protest.
