Lahore: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has described Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) recent anti-government protests as a "do or die" effort, emphasizing a 90-day window to decide the party's political future.
Speaking at a Lahore press conference alongside Salman Akram Raja and others, Gandapur stated, “We have to decide within 90 days whether to pursue politics or not. This movement is a do or die situation.” The rallying cry follows PTI’s formal launch of its intensified protest campaign, aimed at reaching its peak by August 5, which marks two years since PTI founder Imran Khan’s imprisonment.
The protests are primarily centered on demanding the release of founder PTI, who was ousted from power in 2022, and are part of PTI’s broader struggle following stalled negotiations with the government over probes into the May 9 riots and upcoming protests scheduled for November 2024.
Since founder PTI's removal, PTI has been at odds with the coalition government led by PML-N, and its leaders face numerous legal challenges, with some jailed and others demanding dialogue. Imran Khan has repeatedly rejected negotiations, insisting that protests remain the primary strategy.
Gandapur declared that the protest movement would be led by founder PTI and accused the government of launching a "fascist campaign" against PTI’s constitutional right to protest. He called for permission to hold a rally in Lahore and pledged support for similar protests across KP, promising facilities for participants.
On reconciliation, Gandapur noted that founder PTI was open to negotiations with “decision makers” within 90 days to resolve ongoing issues, asserting that the law should be applied equally to all.
Taking a dig at Maulana Fazlur Rehman of JUI-F, Gandapur challenged him to contest elections against his brother, implying internal political tensions and rumors of a no-confidence motion against the KP government led by PTI.
