CM Gandapur criticizes stubbornness of those in power
Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, made a fiery speech against the government days after keeping silence during an operation against PTI legislators in Islamabad.
Addressing a meeting of attorneys, bar council members, ministers, and lawmakers on Wednesday at KP House, Gandapur voiced his displeasure without specifically mentioning the establishment. However, all his remarks seem to directly aimed at them.
This marked Gandapur’s first public appearance after he had been absent for several hours and there had been speculations that he had been called up for a meeting by “state institutions.”
In his nearly 25-minute speech, Gandapur criticized the ruling authorities, describing their approach as one of suppression driven by personal animosity and stubbornness. He vowed to continue voicing his principles, regardless of the consequences. “If you like it, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s even better,” he declared.
He voiced his anger over being wrongfully implicated in FIRs related to a public meeting in Sangjani and questioned why he should not speak out. “Am I your servant or tenant?” he rhetorically asked.
Gandapur also urged the authorities to engage with “illegally imprisoned” Imran Khan to find a solution to the country’s current crisis.
Determined to address the issue of militancy in his province, Gandapur announced plans to send a delegation to Kabul to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban for peace in KP. He challenged the military establishment, saying, “Keep your policies to yourself.” He expressed his commitment to personally address the situation in Afghanistan to resolve the issue and protect lives.
He criticized the lack of response to his concerns about militancy and the erosion of trust in law enforcement. “I requested permission to speak with Afghanistan, our neighbour with whom we share a 1,200 km border. Our blood is being spilled—are our lives less valuable than water? How much longer can I endure this?” he asked.
In a separate statement on Geo News, KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif addressed Gandapur’s brief disappearance. During a period when several PTI leaders were detained in Islamabad, Saif mentioned that attempts to reach Gandapur had been unsuccessful due to his phone being unreachable. He clarified that Gandapur had been summoned to Islamabad for a meeting with officials from the establishment.
Saif later confirmed that the CM had met with establishment officials to discuss security and political matters in KP. He explained that communication was disrupted by jammers, but once Gandapur’s phone was back on, they confirmed he was safe.
Regarding the meeting, Saif described it as a “general, security-related discussion about the province and the country, not a conflict.” He acknowledged that such meetings can involve contentious points but emphasized that the discussion was part of Gandapur’s duties.
Saif added that Imran Khan would not engage in further political discussions with the establishment, citing a lack of willingness on their part to change their policies.
