In a display of his assertive political style, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has once again issued a warning of an armed march towards Islamabad, vowing that any assault on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters would be met with force, as reported by The News on Sunday.
“If a bullet is fired at us, we will respond with bullets and not just fire back but strike with full force,” Gandapur declared while addressing a rally held in the Mathra area on the outskirts of Peshawar, a gathering convened to demand the release of the incarcerated PTI founder, Imran Khan.
The former ruling party, along with former Prime Minister Khan, has been engaged in an uphill battle on both legal and political fronts, with the party founder and senior leaders such as Shah Mahmood Qureshi, among others, currently imprisoned in various cases.
The PTI has undertaken multiple marches on the federal capital, which have led to confrontations with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and widespread arrests of workers and leaders. These events were followed by much-anticipated negotiations with the government, which, contrary to many hopes, failed to yield significant results after the PTI boycotted the talks, citing the government’s failure to establish a judicial commission to investigate the May 9, 2023 riots and the November 2024 Islamabad protest.
Last month, sources indicated that Khan had agreed to initiate dialogue with the government — a significant political shift in the party’s stance, which has consistently emphasized engagement with the establishment rather than the government. However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar soon after distanced the party from any clandestine arrangements, categorically stating that “no deal has been made” with any quarters regarding the party’s imprisoned founder. Furthermore, last week, Gohar announced that Khan had been appointed the party’s patron-in-chief and would lead the proposed nationwide protest movement.
Gohar’s remarks regarding a countrywide movement were echoed by KP CM Gandapur in his address yesterday, who urged PTI supporters across KP to remain prepared, reiterating his call for resistance. “If they shoot at us, they will have to face bullets in return,” he stated, further intensifying the party’s confrontational rhetoric. “We won’t just shoot back, we will hit back hard.”
Other PTI leaders also spoke at the rally, reiterating their demand for the release of their party’s founder and warning of escalating protests if their demands were not met. The chief minister’s remarks have ignited fresh concerns about rising political tensions and the potential for violent clashes in the federal capital.
Gandapur declared a firm stance against future crackdowns and urged party workers to mobilize on June 22. The CM warned that the PTI was no longer committed to passive resistance, stating: “We are no longer peaceful. If you hit us with batons, we will strike back. If you fire bullets, we will respond in kind.” Reaffirming loyalty to the party’s founding leader, Gandapur said: “Whenever the founder of PTI gives a call, the people of KP are always on the front line.” He vowed that party workers would defend themselves against any violent crackdown. “We will go armed. If bullets are fired at us, we will return fire,” he declared. Gandapur also announced a nationwide mobilization plan, urging PTI supporters to converge in their respective tehsils on June 22. “On the 22nd of this month, everyone must take to the streets in their tehsil,” he remarked.
