Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed that a proposal was made to transfer Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Bani Gala, Nathia Gali, or the Chief Minister House, but no progress was made as Khan insisted on the release of all detained workers before his transfer.
Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Gandapur said, “When I set out for a mission, I burn my boats.”
Regarding the November 24 protest, he revealed that the establishment had warned against staging demonstrations, citing the risk of clashes and damage.
The protests were part of the party’s “final call” march towards Islamabad—demanding the release of political prisoners, restoration of democracy, and the return of the people’s mandate. However, it ended abruptly when law enforcement agencies (LEAs) launched a late-night crackdown, dispersing PTI workers and forcing CM Gandapur and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, to flee.
Although PTI alleged that several workers were killed due to the crackdown, the government repeatedly refuted these claims, stating that no lives were lost and no live rounds were fired.
Gandapur stated that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and KP CM’s Adviser on Information Barrister Saif were in contact with the establishment about Sangjani and had directly reached out to the PTI founder. However, at that time, Gandapur had turned off his mobile phone.
KP CM claimed that the establishment’s message was conveyed to both him and the PTI founder, but the latter insisted that only he could announce any change of plans.
He added, “The PTI founder instructed us to march towards D-Chowk unless he said otherwise.”
Gandapur further claimed that upon reaching D-Chowk, he saw three PTI workers dead and 12 others injured. “We evacuated the wounded, but I couldn’t take over 100,000 people where bullets were being fired. They were my responsibility,” he said.
The statement comes amid stalled talks between PTI and the government, with PTI citing the latter’s failure to form a judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots and the November 2024 protests.
Since then, PTI has warned of agitation and sought permission for a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, calling February 8 a “Black Day” for alleged election rigging.
With PTI also set to hold a power show in Swabi, the party has reached out to the establishment, with Imran Khan writing a letter to COAS General Asim Munir, urging policy changes.
