PESHAWAR: After facing significant criticism from both allies and opponents over his "day-long mysterious disappearance" during the recent PTI protest in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reaffirmed his loyalty to PTI founder Imran Khan and condemned those he called hypocrites.
“May Allah destroy them and their families who betray PTI, its ideology, and Imran Khan [...] Don’t believe their claims; the government is scared of your unity and determination,” Gandapur said while addressing the provincial assembly members.
Responding to the criticism over his unexplained absence from PTI members, Gandapur said he would not demand an apology from those who, in his view, made false claims about him because "they are my brothers." He reassured those with concerns but urged them not to fall into the conspiracy of hypocrites trying to deceive them.
He called on lawmakers and party workers to stay united and continue their struggle for constitutional rights, judicial independence, and the release of imprisoned Imran Khan.
The remarks came as questions still linger about Gandapur’s whereabouts during the protest. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the KP Chief Minister of being a swindler, stating that even PTI members were criticizing Gandapur on social media.
In contrast, KP CM Adviser Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif firmly denied any agreement between Gandapur and state institutions, insisting that the chief minister had stayed inside the KP House during the entire episode. He also criticized the government, accusing it of gaining power through election rigging and manipulation, citing Form 47 as evidence.
Addressing PTI’s stance toward the military, Gandapur reiterated that Imran Khan had clarified that the party does not have an anti-army agenda or conflict with the military.
Explaining his actions during the protest, Gandapur said he arrived in Islamabad and headed to KP House to coordinate the protest strategy. He claimed that the Islamabad police and Rangers repeatedly raided the residence, mistreating party workers and even KP policemen. The security in charge, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), was also allegedly mishandled.
Gandapur further revealed that he waited at KP House for instructions from Imran Khan, staying there for four hours before asking party workers to arrange a car, as his convoy’s vehicles were destroyed by law enforcement. He managed to leave using M-Tag, with a receipt to prove it, and later had breakfast at the house of the DPO in Haripur before returning to the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar.
Gandapur’s disappearance lasted over 30 hours, following PTI’s attempt to stage a protest in Islamabad despite the enforcement of Section 144, which prohibited political activities and gatherings in the twin cities. The PTI’s protests were part of their ongoing movement for judicial independence and the release of Imran Khan, who has been in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for over a year.
